VIENNA — Maries County Sheriff Mark Morgan said his office is projected to finish the 2025 fiscal year under budget, despite several line items experiencing higher-than-anticipated costs, driven largely by factors outside the department’s direct control.

According to Morgan, the department ended the year mostly within its approved budget, with only a few line items exceeding projections. He said the most significant cost pressures came from contracts and agreements that predated his administration, and from the continued expense of outboarding inmates while the county jail was closed. Additional strain came from unanticipated equipment and software purchases within the 911 department, which caused the 911 equipment line item to exceed its budgeted amount.

Morgan said the department worked throughout the year to manage costs and make adjustments as needs changed. He noted that spending was closely monitored and that nonessential purchases were delayed when possible. The department also discontinued programs that were determined to be financially unsustainable in the long term.

“In a smaller county like ours, every dollar matters,” Morgan said.

To further control costs, the sheriff’s office adjusted scheduling and emphasized cross-training among staff in an effort to reduce overtime while still maintaining adequate coverage for patrol and dispatch operations.

While budget limitations did not require reductions in essential services to county residents, Morgan said they did result in delayed replacement of some aging patrol vehicles and required the department to reprioritize certain capital purchases.

Morgan identified jail outboarding costs and detainee medical expenses as the most significant unexpected increases during the year. Overtime expenses also rose due to staffing shortages, required training, and extended response times for certain calls for service. Despite these pressures, Morgan said the department was still able to remain under budget in the salary category.

Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, Morgan said he anticipates requesting additional funding to address several ongoing needs. Those include replacing aging patrol vehicles and increasing staffing levels within the jail. Morgan said the department needs four full-time detention officers and one supervisory position, as well as a full-time bailiff to handle court security and prisoner transport duties.

He plans to revisit funding for equipment and technology upgrades that were postponed but remain critical to deputy safety and overall operational efficiency.

Despite the challenges, Morgan said the department remains on track financially.

“Overall, despite encountering several cost increases and unexpected expenses, I am proud to report that the sheriff’s office is still projected to finish 2025 under budget while continuing to provide dependable, professional service to the residents of Maries County,” Morgan said.