Logan County officers held their annual meeting on each of the office’s temporary estimate of needs for the upcoming fiscal year to later present to the Logan County Excise Board. The sheriff’s budget and jail operations collected the most conversation during the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting on Friday.
According to the sheriff’s temporary estimate of needs, full-time salaries ($848,000), travel ($10,200) and maintenance and operations ($8,800) remained the same as last year’s budgeted fiscal year. The lone change fell under the part-time salary budget line, which requests a $6,000 increase.
Article continues following the video. The topic of this article begins at the 7:45 mark of the video.
In previous meetings held, courthouse security became a topic when Senate Bill 456 went into law in 2015, which would allow a fee ($0 to $10) on civil cases filed to benefit courthouse security. However, the commissioners, who overlook the courthouse, have not taken action on the proposed fee. Related story: Commissioners take no action on potential fee to all civil cases filed
Last June, District 1 Commissioner Marven Goodman said, “I am opposed to adding additional fees or fines. It’s basically a tax and it’s probably a tax on the people who can least afford it.”
Commissioners requested Sheriff Jim Bauman put the additional cost into his estimate of needs for further discussion on how to pay for the additional courthouse security.
On Tuesday, Bauman said his full budget would have been the same if the commissioner’s had not requested the additional, part-time security for the courthouse.
Goodman asked Bauman, “If we have cash accounts that have the cash in it to sustain the courthouse security requirement, I’m just curious why we would ask for more money out of the general fund?”
Bauman responded by saying, “We have debated this in the past as far as me as supplying security here and the DA’s (district attorney) and everyone else said I don’t have to supply security here (annex of the courthouse).”
Goodman said he has not seen a DA show up and say that, but believes the state law outlines “that you’re (sheriff) responsible.”
In closing, Goodman said, “I don’t believe that it is right to continue to increase what’s been giving out of the general fund when we have cash funds available to supply or support those requirements. We shouldn’t be building cash funds.”
Mark Sharpton, former county commissioner and current chief deputy for Commissioner Mike Pearson, added, “The Board of County Commissioners does not have the authority to regulate other people’s cash funds. They don’t have the right to raid them, they don’t have the right to move the money around. Only that particular officer or office has that authority.”
Jail operations
Under jail operations, the temporary estimate of needs for jail operations ($250,000) remained the same as last year’s budgeted fiscal year.
Again, as he did last year, Goodman questioned the quarter-cent sales tax for the jail operation to see if it was meeting the obligation. If it was fallen short or if it was over.
Goodman stated, “What’s the actual cost to operate the jail? Is the quarter-cent sales tax sufficient to support the jail? I’m not sure the increment is exactly $250,000.”
Bauman responded by saying he had no problems discussing the matter.
Pearson asked Goodman if this was something he was going to ask the excise board to look into the jail operations. “They’re the ones that set the budget,” Pearson said.
Goodman responded, “I don’t agree with that. I think that is what you believe,” Goodman said.
County Clerk Troy Cole supported a document showing a Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, which overturned a decision in Sequoyah County regarding specifications within the county.
According to the court document passed out by Cole, the civil court found commissioners may be permitted to collaborate in the budget process, but the final order shall be that of the county excise board. County excise boards have the final approval of and ultimate authority over county budgets.
Goodman followed up with, “I agree with that statement. The county excise boards are the ones responsible for determining whether or not the budget meets the constitutional requirements of the office.”
Guthrie News Page has the complete list of the county’s temporary estimate of needs.
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