Scott County Council approves budget adjustments, additional appropriations for Sheriff's Office

At a recent meeting, the Scott County Council approved several financial measures to support the Sheriff's Office, including budget adjustments and additional appropriations. These actions aim to cover court-ordered expenses, unpaid bills from 2024, and ongoing jail operations. The council increased the Local Income Tax (LIT) Special Purpose - Jail fund's budget to $538,949 to accommodate necessary expenses as follows:

Court-ordered parttime services - $100,000

Office supplies - $1,375

Institutional supplies - $2,500

Fuel - $250

Medical & Dental - $8,750

Court-ordered fuel - $7,500

2024 additional - $27,952

Contractual services - $12,500

Transport expenses - $250

Inmate meals - $70,000

Medical Services contract - $68,750

Hospitalization - $8,750

Safety supplies - $1,250

Equipment repair - $12,500

Debt service - $215,500

Uniforms - $100

2024 additional - $13,522

Despite these increases, financial projections indicate that the LIT Special Purpose fund will have approximately $193,000 at year end 2024, with an additional 13th tax payment expected in late May that could further stabilize the fund.

Further approval included $300,478 from the LIT Public Safety - Sheriff fund:

Elected official - $27,527

Chief Deputy - $15,621

Matron - $12,875

Deputies - $137,500

SRO (County match) - $14,105

Merit Board - $500

Replacement overtime/comp - $10,000

Overtime comp saved - $3,750

Training/investigation - $250

Overtime - $12,500

Court-ordered parttime - $25,000

Office supplies - $625

Fuel - $12,500

Safety supplies - $1,250

Tires/parts - $6,250

Court-ordered fuel - $16,750

Postage - $125

Printing/advertising - $125

Uniforms - $125

Equipment repair - $250

Drug buy funds - $2,500

Dept. of Toxicology - $350

$330,671was approved from the LIT Public Safety – Jail fund:

Jail Commander - $15,621

Longevity - $1,300

Overtime - $10,000

Overtime comp saved - $3,750

Jail/operators - $200,000

Court-ordered part time - $100,000

Another financial measure approved was $103,200 from the Sheriff's General Fund:

Supplies - $71,400

Other services and charges - $13,300

Inmate housing - $18,500

A debate arose regarding whether the inmate housing cost should come from LIT Special Purpose funds, but officials determined that it was not advertised under that category and that the General Fund was in better financial standing to handle the cost.

Additionally, the council approved an allocation of $63,621.74 from the Military Equipment Auction Fund (LESO):

Capital Outlays (radio payment) - $38,852.54

Radar - $9,570

Taser - $15,199.20

A $31,735 reimbursement related to contracted sheriff services was also discussed. There was clarification that this amount represents a quarterly reimbursement, and while minor discrepancies were discussed a review of the numbers for accuracy will be done.