Hampden County Sheriffs Cite Rising Costs Amid Budget Scrutiny

Massachusetts sheriffs are facing intense scrutiny from lawmakers after over spending in multiple counties, with Hampden County being $27 million over budget. The Hampden County Sheriff's Department points to rising operational costs—including union labor increases, medical care for inmates, free phone programs, and facility repairs—as the main driver of its deficit. Hampden County Sheriff CFO Chris Gelonese highlighted expenses such as cost-of-living adjustments, no-cost phone calls, and lost commissary revenue. Suffolk, Worcester, Plymouth, and Bristol counties also reported significant overruns, citing medical services, mental health care, and payroll as major expenses.

Sheriffs maintain that their offices are chronically underfunded, often relying on supplemental appropriations to cover mandated programs. Lawmakers, however, have expressed concern over the dramatic rise in supplemental funding requests. Sheriffs argue these costs are essential for maintaining 24/7 staffing, public safety, and programs aimed at inmate rehabilitation, but the debate over adequate funding continues.