El Paso County Sheriff's Office $5.9M Deficit Driven by Staffing Shortages
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 28, 2026
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is projecting a $5.9 million budget deficit as its fiscal year closes, up from $2.5 million just over a month ago. Sheriff Oscar Ugarte attributed the shortfall primarily to overtime costs at the county detention facility, driven by chronic understaffing. The office struggles to retain detention officers who leave for higher-paying law enforcement agencies, and many applicants fail to complete the hiring process. Staffing firms and recruiters serving corrections or public safety sectors may see opportunity as the county seeks a third-party operational assessment and plans personnel restructuring heading into the next budget cycle.
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