A short-lived dispute between the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and the Jefferson County Commission over funding for the 2024 fiscal year (FY ‘24) was resolved this morning, according to a JSCO release.

“Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Commission have reached an understanding regarding the County Commission’s freeze on vacant positions for FY 24,” the release said.

The sheriff’s office, in a statement released Oct. 12, said that the commission was freezing 30% of their total budget. This decision, the statement said, could result in reduced staffing, delayed equipment upgrades, increased emergency response time, and a potential increase in crime. The commission disputed that in a release later in the day, saying it is just seeking a freeze of 30% of all funded existing vacancies throughout the county system.

Both parties agrees today.

“To ensure clarity about the matter, the county manager and commission president have assured Sheriff Pettway that the funds typically allocated for the vacant positions will be redirected to benefit the Sheriff’s Office in the form of salary increases for current deputies that will improve the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to retain its workforce, reduce turnover, and the costs associated with it,” the JSCO said.