Sheriff Donnie Craig is asking for public input on his budget for 2010 at a November 12th town hall meeting.
The sheriff is seeking an increase in funding next year, while the commissioner has requested a cut from all departments.
Craig said Thursday that he had submitted a budget for 2010 that increased roughly 9 percent over the $4.7 million budget his department had when he took office on January 1, 2009.
However Craig noted that virtually all of this increase is tied to higher costs with insurance for the department – an expense that can’t be avoided. Cuts will have to be made elsewhere he said.
He said of the $435,000 increase sought for next year, the sheriff’s department will spend an additional $417,000 on insurance in 2010 over the amount budgeted for 2009. Craig, who is in his first year, said the insurance expense had been under-budgeted in the past.
The sheriff’s department is expected to spend $650,000 on the insurance.
The sheriff said he is not expanding anything with the proposed higher budget, nor is anyone receiving a raise.
He said the commissioner has asked all the departments to make cuts and since he can not cut the insurance, he would have to make cuts in some of the programs and services.
During his first year in office Craig said he trimmed administrative expenses to put more officers on the road. Moving the number of sheriff personnel on patrol up from four to six at key times.
Craig said he has also instituted animal control officers, a K-9 unit and re-instituted inmate work details.
He said there is nothing further to be cut in.
“I have streamlined from top to bottom,” he said.
Craig said he is adding some new vehicles to the fleet, but they will replace cars that are on their last legs. He said the cars being replaced have thousands of miles and are in poor condition.
Craig said he wants to hear from the public on his budget as to whether he should stick to the requested increase or make cuts.
“I submitted the 2010 budget and have been asked to make cuts,” he said. “I want to share this with the public before I make the cuts. The bottom line is I work for the public.”
Craig said if the public reaction is to make the cuts, he will do so, but he wants the public to be aware of what the cuts are and what programs will be involved.
In addition to streamlining, Craig said the sheriff’s office is working to generate revenue by housing prisoners for other counties at a profitable rate for Pickens. He said they have housed a few inmates from Fannin County, but with every county looking to control spending there aren’t many counties considering outside housing. He has been negotiating with one metro county to see if he lure them away from another North Georgia county jail by offering a lower price here.
Craig said that by taking all jail kitchen duties in-house, they will save several thousand dollars next year. Currently, the jail contracts with a company that provides a manager and then uses inmate labor to prepare meals. Next year, they will go with a staff person as the kitchen manager.
The town hall meeting will be November 12 at 6 p.m. at the County Admin building.
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