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James Island leaders agree to pursue amended budget to cover extra sheriff patrol hours
Summary
After the sheriff's patrol reported full staffing for the first time in years, council members agreed staff will prepare an amended budget to fund additional off‑duty patrol hours that cover overnight gaps; hospitality tax is expected to cover part of the cost.
James Island Mayor Brooke Lyon and the Town Council agreed to pursue an amended budget to cover additional off‑duty hours for the sheriff's island patrol after a presentation by Lieutenant Sean James on staffing and coverage.
Lieutenant Sean James, who gave the island patrol report, told the council “for the first time in years, we are fully staffed, as a sheriff's office.” He described a recent surge in deputies volunteering off‑duty hours for James Island shifts and said filling overnight gaps — typically the 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. window — has been difficult in past years.
Why it matters: Council members said extra coverage would place deputies on the street during hours when many break‑ins occur, rather than leaving predictable gaps that offenders exploit. Town finance staff said the extra hours would cost roughly $7,000 a month if sustained.
The council did not vote to increase the budget at the meeting. Instead, they directed staff to prepare an amendment for consideration at the next budget review. Finance Director Michael Hemmer and Lieutenant James will work together to quantify hours and produce figures for the council to consider. Mayor Lyon and council members discussed timing and agreed the amended budget could be presented as part of the town's quarterly budget review.
Council members noted an estimated one‑quarter of the cost (about $17,500 of the ten‑month projection) could be offset by hospitality tax revenues tied to tourism corridors such as Folly Road; the town will identify remaining funding sources in the amended budget presentation.
Discussion points raised in council questions included the annual sheriff contract rate (the contract sets the hourly rate but not precise overtime hours), the difficulty of staffing late‑night hours, and the effect of scheduling extra off‑duty shifts on long‑standing deputies who rely on those hours.
Next steps: Staff will prepare the amended budget language and bring it to council for formal amendment and vote. The council also asked for quarterly budget updates going forward so members can track changes.
