In the next few weeks the county commissioners will hear the wish lists of officeholders as they put together the 2012 budget.

One of those budget proposals comes from Sheriff Jeff Lawless, who wants to increase his staff by three. To do that would mean a budget jump of 68 percent from $2.3 million to $3.8 million.

And at least one commissioner supports Lawless’ quest and then some.

“A society is measured by its government’s ability to uphold its laws,” County Commissioner Bill Pratt said in a prepared statement at the commission’s regular Thursday meeting. “A critical piece of this is the enforcement of those laws. Our sheriff and his deputies are asked to carry that burden. I cannot in good faith, ask this of Sheriff Lawless without making every effort to properly fund his department.”

Pratt said the sheriff’s office is both understaffed and in need of more vehicles. Right now there are only two road deputies out in the county per shift. That compares with nearby Huntington, W.Va., where the commissioner said there were 20 officers for an area that is 20 times smaller than Lawrence County.

“My proposal is that we include in the next two budgets (2012 and 2013) an increase of two road deputies in each year,” Pratt said.

That would bring staffing to 50.

Right now there are 18 cruisers, 15 of which have more than 100,000 miles each on them. Pratt would also like to create a plan that would replace three cruisers a year for the next six years.

“This plan is similar to that of many of our area school districts,” Pratt said. “I believe this will greatly reduce the mechanical repair of which most is out of warranty work.”

Last year vehicle repairs at the sheriff’s office totaled more than $95,000.

“We have seen an impressive result with this approach with our EMS,” Pratt said. “After two new ambulances were placed in the Ironton station, our repairs were reduced by two-thirds.”

In 2008 there were 63 on staff at the sheriff’s office. That figure has dropped to 46 today.

“Certainly the citizens are well deserving of an expanded sheriff’s office,” Lawless said. “A lot of things weigh in to budget problems. Gas is sky high and the lack of manpower causes me to have high overtime. During vacations and people off sick, we don’t have any cushion. I have to fill them with overtime. The overtime budget is outrageous.”

Lawless also said a plan to replace the cruisers would be a savings in the long run.

“This is certainly a start,” the sheriff said. “We understand the county’s budget problem and are not asking for the moon. But we would like to see this agency brought up to staff.”