Sheriff flags staffing classification, jail medical and facilities costs, Bonnaroo overtime and vehicle-leasing concerns

The sheriff presented the department’s budget and several operational issues at the Coffee County Budget & Finance meeting in May, asking the committee to consider consolidating courthouse court-guard positions into the sheriff’s deputy payroll, and flagging rising jail medical costs, building maintenance needs and vehicle-fleet decisions.

The sheriff asked whether courthouse court guards (displayed in the packet under budget line 54210, line +106) could be “blended back in” under the sheriff’s administration payroll line (541-0106), explaining that deputies often staff courthouse duties and that consolidation would simplify reporting and payroll calculations. County finance staff (Mariana) said the change would need to comply with any statutory requirements; commissioners requested the change, if allowed, take effect with the first July payroll.

The sheriff reviewed staffing counts and payroll-line reconciliations: the department currently shows nine courthouse employees on staff with a budgeted 10 positions (a recent reassignment of a deputy—Lieutenant Mullins—appeared to cause a mismatch in the packet). The sheriff asked that the payroll lines be aligned so first payroll in July reflects any agreed consolidation.

The sheriff said jail medical costs have risen this year because of inmates with high medical needs; he credited QCHC staff (including Britney Smith) and county staff for working medical bills but said the facility has incurred significant expense. Commissioners asked about alternatives such as furloughs with ankle monitors; the sheriff said court orders and the district attorney general typically govern releases and monitoring in felony cases.

On facilities, the sheriff raised a major HVAC concern for the jail: discussion participants estimated potential replacement or major repair costs ranging from roughly $150,000 to as much as $330,000 for a full unit replacement depending on scope and whether a large crane and specialized rigging are required. Commissioners agreed the jail maintenance line (335/336 in the packet) should be increased to budget for a replacement or major repair and suggested adding at least $150,000 to that line as a contingency.

The sheriff also discussed equipment and personnel items: a large one-time purchase to replace bulletproof vests is expected, with federal grant reimbursement anticipated; the sheriff said vest purchases will be pursued with grant reimbursement where possible. He discussed the county’s vehicle-enterprise lease program, noting it helped the department replace an aging fleet during the COVID era but that the program’s administrative and audit burden has grown; some commissioners said the county should evaluate staying in the program versus resuming standard vehicle procurement and a phased rotation (for example, five vehicles a year).

The sheriff noted that deputies currently do not wear body cameras (the department has car cameras in some vehicles but not a body-camera program) and said implementing body cameras would require additional staff and budget for handling and storage of the resulting data.

On event policing, the sheriff described increased overtime to support the Bonnaroo festival and said that, after discussions with the district attorney general, the sheriff’s office will be present primarily for law enforcement duties rather than routine traffic detail; Bonnaroo will not reimburse the sheriff’s office directly this year, and the sheriff said overtime will be budgeted and funded from a special fee fund established from event fees rather than general fund revenue.

The sheriff closed by asking commissioners to consider several line-item adjustments and said he would coordinate with county finance staff to ensure payroll counts, line items and any statutory compliance are addressed before the first July payroll.