By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office budget will remain stable in 2018, but Sheriff Jerry Greene told commissioners he’s losing deputies to counties that pay better.

“I am very concerned and bothered by the starting wage of our deputies and how long it takes for them to get to what I would consider a livable wage,” Greene said.

County deputy sheriffs begin at a wage of $14.32 an hour.

Summit County starts deputies at $21 an hour, and they move to $27 an hour after one year, Greene said. The private prison starts guards at $19 per hour.

Six deputies recently have left the county office for better-paying jobs, Maj. William Cappabianca said.

“This isn’t something I think is happening,” Greene said. “I know it’s happening.”

He also suspects it affects the field of potential deputies who apply for positions.

The need comes as the county prepares for the loss of about $4.5 million in annual revenue from a state sales tax on Medicaid managed-care organizations.

Transition aid will assist counties through 2018, but without further action from the state, county governments will be on their own in 2019.

“I’m very optimistic that something will happen before that,” Greene said. “It’s certainly something we can’t withstand.”

County voters approved a .75-percent sales tax in 2014 earmarked for criminal justice services.

Commissioner David Ditzler lamented the county put the “justice tax” in place to add certainty to the sheriff’s budget, only to be hit with the MCO issue.

Greene added the tax provided “just barely” enough to fund his office.

In the meantime, he said the office saved the county money by obtaining grants, regionalizing the radio system and collecting fees on services, including concealed-carry permits, sex-offender registration and foreclosures.

“We’re doing whatever we can to keep our heads above water,” Greene said.

The sheriff’s office requested $23 million for 2018. Of that, $18 million goes toward wages.

Last year, the county appropriated $22.5 million to the department.

The sheriff attributed the 2.63 percent increase to step raises required by the deputies’ contracts.

The board of elections also met with commissioners during Thursday’s budget hearings.

The department’s 2018 request of $2.4 million is up 16.6 percent from $2 million in appropriations this year.

Board officials said the budget is in line with the 2016 budget as they expect increased early voting with 2018’s gubernatorial election.