WASHINGTON — The largest budget item for Daviess County government, the Sheriff’s Department, asked for five new employees  for 2013 but is facing questions about its budget.

Sheriff Jerry Harbstreit asked for two new deputies and three full-time dispatchers during budget hearings Wednesday with the Daviess County Council.

“Not only do we do our jobs, but we serve and protect a huge visiting population,” Harbstreit said.

Right before lunch during the daylong hearings, Harbstreit gave the council a lengthy and, at times passionate, presentation on what his department does and ways he is trying to save money.

“We work a large percentage of everything that happens in this county,” Harbstreit said. “I believe we are the primary law enforcement agency, outside of Washington, in Daviess County.”

Harbstreit gave each council member a book on the good the department does, not just locally but nationally.  The department will be hosting a series of seminars in October that will be attended by sheriffs from throughout the Midwest. Harbstreit also said he has been asked to write for a national publication on the department.

“I am proud of our employees,” Harbstreit said. “I do believe that we do a good job.”

The sheriff’s budget went up by $64,000 to pay for the new deputies and a 3-percent pay raise. He also asked for a 6-percent pay raise for the assistant jail commander and assistant chief dispatcher. To pay for the new dispatchers, it will cost approximately $78,000.

But the department has been questioned on its spending, as Council President Mike Sprinkle addressed during the meeting.

“We look at different counties’ budgets and stuff and our county has the highest (sheriff’s department) per capita,” Sprinkle said. “I just have a concern.”

“But what services do I cut?” Harbstreit said.

“That’s what makes our job hard,” Sprinkle said.

“If I could do everything and run on less people, I would,” Harbstreit said.

Harbstreit said he has heard the complaints on spending too, especially when the county purchased four used motorcycles from the Bloomington Police Department. He said the motorcycles were purchased at a large discount, and has helped the county. Harbstreit mentioned during a recent accident, a deputy on a motorcycle was the first to arrive on the scene, even though the road was gravel.

He also said many of the recent vehicle purchases have been through federal drug seizure funds, not from his budget.

Sprinkle empathized with Harbstreit, but said he also hears various ideas from constituents.

“We’ve got a unique problem,” Sprinkle said. “I get these concerns from constituents. Some are reliable and some just want to gripe about everything.”

Added into the situation is increasing costs at the jail. Harbstreit asked for more funds for increased sewer and water costs, and items that need replaced, like mattresses, blankets and uniforms.

After lunch, Harbstreit came back to finish his budget hearing. He came up with the suggestion to move some funds, about $400,000, to the county’s E-911 fund.

They also discussed cutting back on jail programs, like the RARE program.

“If we were not going to pay someone to run our RARE program, I don’t think it would end,” Harbstreit said.

While nothing was set Wednesday, it is evident the council and the department will be facing some tough decisions before budget adoption meetings on Sept. 3 and 4.

“I know you are out in the public like I am and you get faced with the same questions,” Harbstreit said.

During the council meeting following the hearings, the council approved two additional appropriations for the department: $26,000 for overtime and $8,550 for uniforms. The overtime was compensated by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.