BUDGET CRUNCH MAY AFFECT CALHOUN COUNTY SD
Marc Summers
05-08-2008
The Calhoun County Commission has told Sheriff Larry Amerson effective immediately, that the county would not honor any request for overtime pay, that is, unless the Sheriff`s Office provides a check from its discretionary fund to pay for it.
Sheriff Amerson stated that he didnt have money for overtime pay, and he may have to start laying off deputies to resolve the situation.
The Sheriff`s Office and the Calhoun County Jail received nearly $5 million of the county`s $13.3 million General Fund budget, and reportedly the Sheriff`s Office has gone about a half million dollars over budget thus far.
Part of the problem apparently lies with overtime expenses and higher gasoline prices.
Costs could rise even more should the city of Anniston pull its police officers out of those jurisdictions beyond the city limits, at which time Sheriff`s deputies would be responsible for patrolling and responding to calls in those areas as well.
County Commission members and Sheriff Amerson are currently looking at options to solve the potential budget crunch without sacrificing services to the residents of Calhoun County.
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