Cleveland County approves $3.2 million to keep sheriff's office afloat

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

1 3 minutes read

HE will go and where they will be taken in a special meeting, Cleveland County commissioners have created a bailout fund to keep the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office above water until the next fiscal year. $3.2 MILLION. That's the price of bailing out the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. THIS IS MONEY THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSFERRED SO WE CAN PAY THEM SO WE CAN KEEP THE FAITH AND CREDIT OF CLEVELAND COUNTY STRONG. ON MONDAY, THIS MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED TO A NEW ACCOUNT MANAGED BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PAY SHERIFF CHRIS EMERSON'S REMAINING SALARIES AND OUTSTANDING BILLS. THIS IS MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO THESE ACCOUNTS TO PAY CURRENT BILLS AS WE KNOW, THIS COMES AFTER A LONG BUDGET BATTLE AND AN ONGOING STATE AUDIT. THE SHERIFF IS ACCUSED OF OVERSPENDING AS HE INDICATED AN INCREASE IN COSTS AND CREATIVE FUNDING. BUT TODAY HE THANKED THE BUDGET COUNCIL FOR WORKING WITH HIM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. According to the county, they gave him an additional $4 million this year. A COUNTY SPOKESMAN SAYS THIS MONEY WILL POSTPONE MAJOR REPAIR PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, SUCH AS IMPROVING THE FAIR PARKS, AND WILL TAKE YEARS TO RECOVER. THE COUNTY SAYS THIS BUDGET CRISIS WILL IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE SHERIFF RECEIVES FOR THE COMING YEAR. SHERIFF EMERSON REQUESTED $17 MILLION FOR THE NEXT FY, STARTING IN JULY, ABOUT 1 MILLION LESS THAN THIS YEAR.

Cleveland County approves $3.2 million to keep sheriff's office afloat this fiscal year

On Monday, that money was transferred to a new account managed by county commissioners to pay remaining salaries and unpaid bills for the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.

Cleveland County's sheriff's officer will get a bailout after months of controversy over a blown budget. Cleveland County commissioners created a bailout fund during a special meeting Monday to get the sheriff's office through to the end of the fiscal year. Officials approved $3.2 million to keep the office afloat. “This is money that needed to be moved, so we can get those who are paid paid and maintain the full faith and credit of Cleveland County,” said County Commissioner Rod Cleveland, who represents the district 1. On Monday, that money was transferred into a “This is money that's going to be transferred into these accounts to pay the current bills, as we know,” Cleveland said. This follows a months-long budget battle and an ongoing state audit. The sheriff has been accused of overspending as he highlighted increased costs and creative financing. But he thanked the Budget Council for working with him to resolve the issue Monday. The county said it awarded him an additional $4 million this year. A county spokesperson said the money would delay major countywide repair projects, such as improving the fairgrounds, and would take years to recover. The county also said the budget crisis will impact the amount of money the sheriff receives for the coming year. Amason requested $17 million for the next fiscal year starting in July, about $1 million less than it was given this year. Project expenditures for this fiscal year are $22 million. Featured Police search for suspects after separate overnight shootings, blocks from each other, leave 3 injured Suspect arrested, investigation underway after deadly incident in Choctaw Casino parking lot Watch: Videos you have possibly missed this week Girl dies after being hit in the head in freak accident with badminton racket

Cleveland County's sheriff's officer will get a bailout after months of controversy over a blown budget.

Cleveland County commissioners created a bailout fund during a special meeting Monday to get the sheriff's office through to the end of the fiscal year. Officials approved $3.2 million to keep the office afloat.

“This is money that needed to be moved, so we can get these people paid and maintain the full faith and credit of Cleveland County,” said County Commissioner Rod Cleveland, who represents District 1 .

On Monday, that money was transferred to a new account managed by county commissioners to pay the rest of Sheriff Chris Amason's payroll and outstanding bills.

“This is money that is going to be transferred into these accounts to pay current bills, as we know,” Cleveland said.

This follows a months-long budget battle and an ongoing state audit. The sheriff was accused of overspending as he highlighted increased costs and creative financing.

But he thanked the Budget Board for working with him to resolve the issue Monday.

The county said it awarded him an additional $4 million this year. A county spokesperson said the money would delay major countywide repair projects, such as improving the fairgrounds, and would take years to recover.

The county also said the budget crisis will impact the amount of money the sheriff receives for the coming year.

Amason requested $17 million for the next fiscal year starting in July, about $1 million less than it was given this year. Project expenditures for this fiscal year are $22 million.

Main titles