ASHLAND — Ashland County Sheriff Kurt Schneider requested a 4% increase to the agency’s annual budget for 2026.
Ashland County commissioners didn’t take action on Thursday’s request; the board is accepting requests from department heads until commissioners ratify budgets in late December.
The sheriff’s office is the county’s largest in terms of departmental budgets. In 2025, the sheriff’s office’s budget amounted to $7.1 million across all divisions.
Schneider said the majority of the increase of $425,000 would go toward expected wage hikes.
“That represents a four percent increase across the board for the staff,” he said, adding he hopes contract negotiations don’t go much beyond that 4% mark.
All four bargaining units are due for new contracts in 2026. Those current agreements — all with the Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent Association — expire Dec. 31.
Schneider referenced a couple spreadsheets during his presentation to commissioners. The spreadsheets reflect nine current vacancies he hopes to fill in 2026.
The agency is budgeted for 107 staff members. With vacancies, that number sits at 98. He expects three retirements in 2026.
One of the vacancies that has gone unfilled is former chief deputy Dave Blake. The agency veteran took a job at Richland County Jail in April. Schneider said he hopes to fill that vacancy with another administrative position.
Schneider said he hopes to fill every vacancy as soon as possible, though his stricter hiring practices have slowed that process, he said.
“I really don’t want just bodies filling these spots,” Schneider said. “We’ve really tightened up the manner of which we’re hiring and screening applicants.”
Vehicles line item
Commissioner Denny Bittle recommended the sheriff include the replacement of vehicles as a line item in the agency’s budget. Historically, commissioners have allocated around $150,000 for the purchase of three new vehicles for the sheriff’s office.
Bittle warned that not upgrading vehicles regularly could jeopardize the agency’s fleet.
“We’ll be in the same spot we were five years ago where everything’s got 120,000 miles on it … I think part of the responsibility of this board is to make sure we have road-safe vehicles for our staff out there,” he said.
Schneider agreed, but added the commissioners’ allocation covers the vehicle only. The sheriff’s office covers the cost for outfitting the vehicles with equipment and appropriate signage.