MONTMORENCY COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A northern Michigan community is in need of more school resource officers.

But for months, the sheriff's department and the county's board of commissioners have disagreed over funding.

School in Montmorency County, including Hillman Community Schools and Atlanta Community Schools, got a grant from the state to pay for 50% of the salary for two additional school resource officers.

But Montmorency County Commissioners said they don't know if the county can afford to pay for the other half of the salaries.

And they believe the sheriff's department already has enough staff.

But the sheriff's department disagrees.

"Current staffing isn't going to allow for us to put two dedicated officers in the school full-time and still handle all the complaints and emergencies and daily activities that our office is responsible for," said Montmorency County Sheriff Chad Brown.

Commissioners said they all see the need for more school resource officers.

"I think we all have the same goal," said Board Chairman Don Edwards. "It's how we pay for it. It's a budget issue."

During the commissioners meeting on Thursday, a community member expressed concern.

"There's a lot of talk about all this money we are saving in the county. I sure hope we can find money for this SRO," the community member said.

But Sheriff Brown said having two more school resource officers solely dedicated to being at the schools full-time is important.

"Keeping them safe is one thing, but building those relationships and actually having the ability to make impacts in their lives, positive role models, things like that, it's something that is very important to us, to our office," Sheriff Brown said.

"We're excited for the opportunity and we're hoping that... the county will work with us on it," Sheriff Brown said. "It's frustrating to hear that they don't feel like we have the funding available.

Commissioners said they will be making a decision at the county board meeting on March 16.