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Chickasaw County sheriff proposes five‑year Axon Taser agreement, requests $40,000 up front
Summary
Sheriff Brian Schauber told the Board of Supervisors he negotiated a five‑year agreement with Axon for new Tasers that would require a $40,000 first‑year payment; supervisors questioned entering a multi‑year financial commitment before future budgets are set.
Sheriff Brian Schauber asked the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on June 9 to authorize a five‑year agreement with Axon for replacement Tasers, proposing a $40,000 initial payment this fiscal year and annual payments spread over the following four years.
The contract, as described by Schauber, would provide 11 Taser handles with rechargeable batteries, cartridges, annual training for the department’s 16 sworn employees, one device for the jail and spare cartridges and batteries. Schauber said Axon has phased out the county’s current X2 model, “we can’t purchase this model anymore,” and that the new arrangement includes a five‑year warranty and no‑cost replacement units for warranty failures during the term.
The sheriff outlined the payment plan to the board as a structure that lets the county pay “what feels comfortable” up front, then divide the remaining costs across years two through five. He told supervisors he plans to use his department’s police supplies budget to cover the $40,000 now and budget the remaining annual amounts in future police supplies lines.
The recommendation prompted extended discussion from supervisors about county purchasing policy and the fiscal prudence of committing to multi‑year obligations before budgets for subsequent years are finalized. Supervisors questioned whether departments may legally obligate future budgets and expressed concern about entering a five‑year financial obligation with uncertain property‑tax and revenue forecasts next year. Schauber said he judged this to be “the right time” to upgrade equipment because replacement parts and service for the X2s are no longer available.
No final board vote or roll call approving the Axon agreement is recorded in the transcript. A formal motion to approve the Axon purchase plan was made and seconded and remained under discussion on the record; the transcript does not contain a final tally or an explicit adoption of the agreement.
The board’s procedural rules and internal purchase policy surfaced repeatedly in the discussion. Supervisors noted that the county policy requires board acknowledgement for expenditures over $10,000 and that department budgets generally control spending authority once funds are appropriated. Schauber said his budget can accommodate the $40,000 initial payment while still returning anticipated funds to the county general balance.
The sheriff also described operational details: the county would receive inert training cartridges and live‑fire cartridges, a training suit is needed to meet Axon’s increased training recommendations, and batteries on the new model are rechargeable rather than disposable.
Because the transcript does not show a completed roll call for this agenda item, the sheriff’s request remained a matter for further action or clarification at a later meeting.
For follow up, the board may ask the sheriff for a final contract document, an invoice showing the June/July billing dates he referenced, and an updated multi‑year cost schedule tied to the sheriff’s FY‑26 proposed police supplies budget.
