Sheriff Martin Pace outlined his budget requests for law enforcement and jail operations to the Warren County Board of Supervisors Friday, seeking additional funding over this year’s budget for fuel cost increases, an additional investigator, a new boat and a 5 percent raise for employees.

However, it will be nearly impossible for Pace’s requests to be granted without raising taxes for the General Fund, which the supervisors seemed reluctant to do.

“I understand that may not be what they like, but we can only do so much this year,” said Board President Richard George.

While Pace said an additional detective, boat and other items in the budget are greatly needed, he told supervisors the raises are his priority.

“I know the pursestrings are tight this year. Everything I’ve included in this budget are things we truly need,” said Pace. “But, more than anything, the thing I’m most passionate about is giving my guys a raise.”

But George said even raise were something he could not see supporting if it meant raising taxes.

County Administrator John Smith said sheriff’s department employees received a 5 percent raise in 2005-06, a 3 percent raise in 2006-07 and a 4 percent raise for the current fiscal year. Pace said previous raises have not been enough; that his deputies are still the lowest-paid officers among law area enforcement agencies, including the Vicksburg Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Mississippi Highway Patrol.

“Most important to me is my ability to retain and attract the type of highly professional deputies the people of Warren County have come to expect,” he said.

Pace’s staff includes 26 patrol officers, seven investigators and three supervisors. The sheriff’s department proposed budget totals of $3,687,387, an increase of $391,709 from what the department received under the current fiscal year’s budget. Of the increases, $100,000 will be for fuel expenses alone, with the department budgeting for a total gas expense of $235,000 in the coming fiscal year.

The requested amount does not include the $139,908 the supervisors will likely agree to pay a Denverbased consulting firm to plan a new jail. On Thursday a five-member panel created to find a consultant for a new jail recommended that supervisors choose Voorhis/Robertson Justice Services Inc. for the job. The supervisors will take up the issue at a meeting Monday.

Pace was last to go before supervisors who concluded week-long budget hearings Friday. A public hearing on the budget will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 2; immediately after, supervisors will adopt a budget and set millage rates.

In earlier rounds, supervisors heard that without more money via a tax increase road maintenance work would have to be reduced.