Message of the Week 01/02/2026

Message of the Week 01/02/2026

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026!

The beginning of the new year marks the start of numerous processes within the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office; one of those processes is setting and working on the budget, which resets every year on July 1. The budget process is tedious, and the budget team works diligently to ensure that your tax dollars are spent responsibly and consistently in accordance with the community's law enforcement needs.

In planning the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office budget, it's important to think about how to achieve community goals in a cost-effective and efficient way. Below is the thought process when completing the annual budget:

Grant utilization: The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has sought and been awarded several grants in 2025. We will continue to seek grant opportunities that improve our services to the community throughout 2026.

Prioritize crime prevention: Prioritize crime prevention over remedial services.

Identify what works: Ask how the requested funding will achieve the desired outcomes and require supporting data.

Look for ways to save money: Consider reallocating funds from things that can be stopped or done differently.

Consider multidisciplinary solutions: Think beyond departmental resources and bring other perspectives to the table.

Demonstrate cost-effectiveness: Explain how an expenditure saves money or reduces risk.

Use activity-based budgeting: This method links police workload with financial planning to allocate resources more effectively.

Over the past three years, a concentrated effort has been made to remove the collective mindset of “this is how we have always done it.” Historical precedent does not determine the future budgets of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.

The annual report is another project that begins with the start of the New Year. The annual report, which gathers information, crime data, and other statistical data from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, will be released to the public upon completion. The annual report will also be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in a public forum. The expected release date is January 12, 2026.

I wish all of Lyon County a safe and happy New Year!

Respectfully,

Sheriff Brad Pope