Glenwood Springs, Colo. (AP) Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said he plans to offer $2,000 hiring bonuses to address understaffing at the county jail.

Vallario also will offer a $500 recruiting incentive to employees who refer people who are hired and work out well for the sheriff's department.

The jail has been 20 to 25 percent below full staffing for the last year.

Last fall, Vallario agreed to an 11 percent increase in starting jail deputy pay to $18.66 an hour, equalizing pay between patrol and detention deputies.

Vallario plans to use a federal grant to pay the bonuses.

Other area public and private employers also have had trouble filling positions amid an oil and gas boom.