Lucas County commissioners pressed Sheriff Mike Navarre on township patrol costs during his budget presentation Tuesday, focusing on whether payments from Monclova and Springfield cover the added service. The two townships are projected to pay almost $3.3 million combined in 2027, according to the sheriff’s presentation. Townships and cities without their own police departments depend on deputies for emergency response.
Commissioners and their staff said they doubt the contracts bring in enough money and expect the county general fund to cover the difference. They questioned the agreements during a tight budget cycle, while Navarre defended the figures. He said the 2027 contract structure should cover the extra service those communities receive beyond the sheriff’s statutory obligation, and that the new contracts include personnel costs in both townships, such as estimated wages for that year. Commissioner Anita Lopez told him the agreements could be used to negotiate more revenue for the sheriff’s budget.
The spending plan also came under scrutiny. Departments were asked to find 13% in cuts. Even after eliminating 20 positions, the sheriff’s budget was 8.5% higher, partly because of wage increases commissioners approved in 2025. The county faces an end-of-year deadline to submit its final budget.