Whitley Fiscal Court, Sheriff’s Dept. spar over budget

The Whitley County Fiscal Court approved the new $1.534 million budget for the sheriff’s department Tuesday night, but a disagreement over prior use of $10,000 in coal severance money led the court to approve it on a “line item by line item” basis.

With that change, any future changes to the budget must be approved by the fiscal court.

The new budget approved Tuesday differs from the initial budget presented at the regular meeting on Dec. 16 in one area. The line item denoting the $27,028.60 allocated for the purchase of vehicles has been removed.

Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr. assured Sheriff Colan Harrell and Chief Deputy KY Fuson that the money was still available to the department. However, the fiscal court wanted a say in how that money was spent.

Fuson noted the budget was essentially the same as previous years, including that item, which is used to replace one of the department’s fleet of 21 cruisers.

When Fuson asked what led to the change from past years when the court approved the sheriff department’s budget as presented, White recounted a meeting in July when Fuson, on behalf of the sheriff’s department, agreed to put $10,000 in coal severance money allocated to the department for the purchase of equipment towards the purchase of 12 dash mounted cameras to be installed in the department’s cruisers.

White noted that soon after, bills were brought to his office showing the money had been spent on equipping a car and purchasing guns and handcuffs.

Fuson responded that he had been told the deadline to either use the money or lose it was just a few days away.

With the cost of the cameras and installation estimated at $80,000 and no other money available to make up the difference, Fuson said he used the money on needs for the department.

Whitley County Treasurer Jeff Gray explained that a memorandum of agreement to use the $10,000 for the cameras could have been submitted to the Department for Local Government, which would have held the money until the remainder was in place.
Fuson said the unique situation of the sheriff’s department, which, with the exception of an advance from the state that it must repay, operates on the taxes and fees it collects, will put the department in peril.

Fuson noted that money is routinely shuffled from category to category in an effort to keep operations going.

Fuson pointed to the fact that falling gas prices has reduced that line item in the budget. However, if there is another spike, it could quickly eat away at the allocated funds.

“We really operated on a shoestring budget,” Fuson said.

White responded that the county’s other departments operate on a line item budget. When changes are necessary, budget amendments are submitted to the fiscal court for approval.

“The court meets every month,” White said, adding the department was not going to exceed allocated funds in one or two months.

Fuson said he was not aware there was a problem and told the White and the magistrates they are welcome to come down to the office anytime and review the budget, expenses or any other financial documents related to the department.
As to the cameras, Fuson said he will work to secure the necessary grants and have the money in place within the next three months.

In addition, the General Assembly will begin meeting in January to put together the new state budget and new coal severance money will be allocated.

Coal severance tax money is generated through the sale of minerals. One-half of that revenue is returned to coal producing counties.

30 percent of the fund is used on road projects involving coal haul roads. The remainder is used to fund grants to finance public safety, environmental protection, public transportation, health, recreation, education, social services, industrial and economic development, vocational education, workforce training and secondary wood industry development.

“I want the cameras,” Fuson said.