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Government & Civic Affairs Blackford County

Sheriff Requests Modest 2027 Budget Increase, New Jail Generator

By The Blackford Ledger The Blackford Ledger

From the Blackford County Council Budget Workshop #2 & Regular Meeting on August 5, 2026

Sheriff Jim Heflin presented his 2027 budget request to the county council, with a total increase of $125,908 over the current year.

Of that increase, $70,187 is mandatory — 2027 has 27 pay periods instead of the usual 26, which affects all county employees. The actual discretionary increase is $55,721, or $1,547.80 per employee, which Heflin described as less than 4%.

Heflin also flagged the need for a new jail generator at an estimated cost of $115,000. Titan Electric quoted $26,250 for installation. Heflin plans to present the purchase to the commissioners at their August 17 meeting for brand and model selection. The generator may be purchased this year through an additional appropriation or from reserve funds rather than included in the 2027 budget.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Council Budget Workshop #2 & Regular Meeting, August 5, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.

About our reporting: The Blackford Ledger builds its government coverage from official public records, and every report is reviewed by an editor before publication. Read our Editorial Policy & Corrections or request a correction.