El Paso County Sheriff’s Office faces projected $5.9 million deficit

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Monday, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will give a presentation detailing its 2026 budget update.

By Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2026, the Sheriff's Office projects a $5,903,861.58 deficit, according to the budget presentation.

The FY2026 adopted budget for the Sheriff's Office was $136,423,023.

The FY2026 revised budget is $144,147,249.

That puts them at a $7,724,226 increase.

• $1,440,791 of this increase is attributable for salaries and related costs due to transfer of three maintenance divisions to EPCSO.
• $512,366 of this increase is attributable for operating costs due to transfer of three maintenance divisions to EPCSO.

Since their last presentation on Sept. 14, that budget has increased by $1,558,674.

As of Sept. 14, 94.42% of the total Sheriff's Office budget has been spent. 98.54% of salary and benefits budget has been spent.

The target for spending as of Sept. 15, 2026 was 92.31%. Most budget overtimes have been exceeded as of that date.

The Sheriff's Office expenditure has also increased by $7,137,718 since Sept. 14, according to the presentation.

In early September, the Sheriff's Office attributed the budget shortfall to overtime spending, increasing fuel and food costs and salaries.

In a previous statement sent to ABC-7, the Sheriff's Office shared a statement regarding the budget:

"In response to recent reports regarding the Sheriff’s Office projected budget shortfall, I want to provide additional context to our community.

The increasing year-end projection should not be interpreted to mean that our overtime spending is increasing at the same rate. We have been actively working to control and maintain overtime while continuing to operate two detention facilities and provide law enforcement services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The projection also changes as necessary operating expenses continue to be processed, including inmate food, medical and hospital expenses, facility operations, utilities, fuel, salaries, and other essential costs of operating the Sheriff’s Office.

I take our responsibility to taxpayers seriously. We are reviewing expenditures, reducing costs wherever we safely can, and working with the Budget Team, County Administration, and Commissioners Court. At the same time, I have consistently raised concerns that our funding, particularly for overtime, does not reflect the actual operational needs of the Sheriff’s Office.

My goal is not to argue over a projection. My goal is to work together to identify the actual costs of safely operating the Sheriff’s Office and develop a realistic and sustainable budget so we do not find ourselves facing the same situation again next year.

We will continue to be transparent, accountable, and focused on providing safe and responsible public safety services to the people of El Paso County."

In their Sept. 14 meeting, Commissioners discussed requesting Sheriff Ugarte personally attending the Sept. 21 meeting to provide a more detailed explanation of the Sheriff's Office's overtime costs.