YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Local law enforcement agencies are currently struggling with hiring and keeping officers in their respective departments. That's why Mahoning County Sheriff, Jerry Greene is asking for over $1 million to help strengthen the force.

Sheriff Greene tells 21 News the biggest reason for so many officers leaving is low pay and finding better paying jobs elsewhere.

"The position we found ourselves in really quickly was that people are leaving our offices for higher paying jobs in different areas," Greene said.

Greene is asking for roughly $2 million for the Sheriff's Department to cover starting wages for deputies, as well as yearly pay increases. Greene says some initiatives they've done generate income for the criminal justice fund specifically to offset the bleeding of losing employees.

"It looks like it's a considerably higher budget that we are requesting. Please also know that through a deal with a private prison, we're generating approximately five million more dollars a year so that covers the increase that we're asking for," Greene said.

Mahoning County Commissioners tell 21 News that Sheriff Greene's request is not unreasonable and that deputies do need to be paid well in order to be kept.

Commissioners do not have an official answer yet, but are currently putting figures together to see what can and can't be done.