Scotland County leaders press sheriff on jail overcrowding, overtime and staffing; request hiring, vehicle and incentive plan

The Scotland County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Ralph Kersey held an annual budget discussion Oct. 21 that centered on jail overcrowding, high overtime payouts and staffing shortfalls — matters commissioners said are both a financial strain and a public-safety concern.

Chairman Tim Ivey opened the meeting by noting growth in public-safety spending since the sheriff took office, saying the combined sheriff's office and jail budget has risen from about $4.6 million in 2014 to roughly $8.2 million in the current budget year. He told the board that the state has directed the county it will need to move inmates because of overcrowding, and that transfers could add roughly $50 per inmate per day in additional costs.

County Manager April Snead summarized recent budget monitoring and actions. “Our board of commissioners voted unanimously to freeze 75% of the sheriff and jail's budget for overtime spending,” Snead said, and she told the board the sheriff then significantly reduced overtime in the weeks that followed; the board later voted to lift the freeze after the reductions took effect.

In his remarks, Sheriff…