Sheriff, BOC clash over funding

Sheriff Jud Smith and members of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners were at odds again Tuesday over money for the sheriff’s office. Smith made a request for an additional $457,000 for the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday night, an action that sparked a heated debate between the sheriff and some BOC members.
In the end, the BCSO was given $50,000 out of the county’s contingency fund while the board looks into the issue over the next two weeks. Smith said without additional funding, he would not be able to put fuel in the patrol cars, pay overtime, maintain his vehicles or feed jail prisoners.
Smith and BOC member Kenny Shook had a somewhat heated back-and-forth over the issue during Tuesday’s meeting, which lasted more than three hours. Shook said the sheriff did not budget enough money in certain areas, but Smith contended his budget was gutted by $777,000 by former county manager Jock Connell.
This isn’t the first time that Smith has clashed with the BOC over funding. During last year’s budget discussion, the BOC wrangled with Smith over his budget, but eventually restored some of the funds he requested. BOC chairman Pat Graham has been a critic of the sheriff’s budget since taking office, as was her predecessor Danny Yearwood.
For the full story, see the June 25 issue of the Barrow Journal.