Concerns persist as Cleveland Co. leaders grapple with sheriff's budget

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

NORMAN — Disagreements persisted between Cleveland County commissioners and the local sheriff over budget concerns ahead of the embattled sheriff's possible re-election Tuesday.

County commissioners held a special meeting Monday to discuss the county's fiscal year 2025 budget presentations and to further discuss the currently approved “Fiscal Year 2024 Sheriff's Taxpayer-Assisted Bailout Fund.” last week, which diverted another $3.2 million to the sheriff's department so it could reunite. unpaid payroll and other invoices.

They also formally agreed to the first part of a special audit led by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, unveiled last Wednesday. The audit was initially requested by Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason to clarify misconceptions about funds available from last July to February of this year, but commissioners recently followed through on their request by also asking Byrd to investigate the entire fiscal year.

Amason's office was initially allocated $18.36 million by the fiscal 2024 budget board in September, and the audit of Byrd's office showed that in February it had collected $16.8 million. dollars. On Monday, the sheriff began presenting a “needs estimate” of $17.16 million for fiscal year 2025, with expected spending totaling just over $22 million.

More: Part of a special audit of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office has been released. What there is to know

But Amason's request concerned both Rod Cleveland, longtime Cleveland County District 1 commissioner, and Jim Reynolds, longtime county treasurer, who insist Amason spent too much money during this exercise. Amason's proposed budget for fiscal 2025 includes, among various described “savings,” a 50 percent reduction in management staff, but he admitted he still expected to spend about $22 million.

“But if you've spent $22 or $23 million this year and you're talking about cuts and downsizing, why are things going up?” asked Reynolds. “Why is your budget holding steady? And I say holding steady – why are you still at $22 million? If you're spending $22 million and you're talking about cuts, reductions and substantial changes , why are we still at the same amount?”

Amason attributed the cost of the projected spending to rising costs due to inflation and the need to ensure the prison is fully staffed.

Spokespeople for the sheriff's office declined to speak with The Oklahoman through any communication other than email, and did not respond when asked by email whether recent overspending was due to insufficient revenue or unforeseen expenses. But Amason said Monday during the budget presentation that “there has been a lot of misinformation” regarding the office's operations division.

“Let me be very clear: Patrol has never been and will never be reduced to an unsustainable level,” he said. “I will not compromise public safety or the security of our citizens that they deserve and trust.”

But Cleveland and Reynolds said Amason failed to use proper channels to authorize new positions or clarify needed resources. They claim Amason's overspending essentially forces commissioners and budget board members to divert money from other funds to cover unpaid bills and keep the county in good financial standing.

“This is unprecedented in the state of Oklahoma,” Cleveland said. “I mean, what do we do if he sends us bills? Should we let the prison fail? No, you don't do that. We need to fix these problems and we need to make sure these people get paid. But there he is, giving us more bills.

The election takes place the day after the extraordinary meeting

The budget battle has marred the Republican sheriff's effort to win re-election, and he will face his challengers, former highway patrolman Tim Deal and former county jail administrator Julie Tipton, on Tuesday.

The county's next budget adoption meeting will be held Friday, to allow sufficient statutorily appropriate time for public comment on the proposals. But Reynolds is worried.

In a letter written May 7 to county commissioners by Amason's attorney, Mike Fields, the sheriff initially proposed an estimated budget for “needs” for fiscal year 2025 at $14.47 million. That amounts to a $3.9 million reduction from what board members had approved for fiscal 2024, “the result of restructuring within the office,” the attorney wrote . But by mid-June, as the treasurer noted, budgetary spending had increased again, in the opposite direction.

“The facts are very clear: This is unsustainable,” Reynolds said. “I said it four months ago: The level of spending at the sheriff's office is unsustainable. And he can talk about all these numbers and put it together, but something doesn't add up.”

Related: Cleveland County Commissioners approve $3.2 million to 'bail out' sheriff's overspending

Amason is not the only one up for re-election on Tuesday. Cleveland County District 2 Commissioner Jacob McHughes is also running to retain his seat. The positions of county clerk and clerk of court are also on the ballot.

Among other issues discussed Monday, commissioners also approved a request for qualified consulting firms to conduct a root cause analysis of recent deaths in the Cleveland County Jail, with the goal of identifying problems in the system, improving the safety of detainees and prevent more deaths.

2024 Oklahoma Primary Election Guide: Who's on the ballot, where to vote, results

The election takes place the day after the extraordinary meeting

Lina Portman

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