Clayton County approves $7 million for sheriff's office, conditions funding on internal audit and delivery of missing 2024 audit

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved $7,000,000 to the sheriff's office and required the county's internal audit department to examine the office's accounts and overtime practices, and directed the sheriff to provide a previously completed 2024 audit that outside auditors say has not been produced.

The board's action amended Budget Amendment 2-28, which originally sought $14,676,303 to cover salaries, overtime, personnel benefits, contract service fees and other operating expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year. Chairwoman Dr. Alika Anderson Henry moved the amendment to reduce the appropriation to $7,000,000 and attach audit conditions; the motion passed following debate, with four ayes and one abstention.

Why it matters: Commissioners and multiple public speakers said the sheriff's office has spent well beyond projections in recent fiscal cycles, and county external auditors have reported they lack access to certain sheriff's office bank statements. County officials said the missing documents could jeopardize state grant eligibility. The board's conditional approval is intended to keep jail operations funded while requiring transparency steps that could resolve audit findings and unblock potential state funding.

Board members and members of the public pressed for more detailed financial records before approving additional funds. Commissioner Gail Hambrick said she wanted monthly documentation and proposed paying bills on receipt rather than releasing a large lump sum; Commissioner Hambrick also asked for line-item justification for several entries on the packet. Finance staff told the board the sheriff's office spends about $5,710,000 per month and that finance was holding approximately $1,600,000 in invoices, producing a projection of roughly $7.3 million needed to cover one month plus outstanding invoices.

Public comments at the start of the meeting framed the issue as a matter of transparency. Rhonda Ashley and Atanya Jean Funny urged an audit and tighter controls; Cornell Madison and others alleged irregularities in pay and overtime. Commissioner Alika Anderson Henry said the board was not trying to starve inmates or deny services, but to ensure money is properly tracked: "What I do want, ladies and gentlemen, is for the sheriff to manage his budget," she said.

County attorney comments and auditor concerns: County legal staff confirmed annual audits are required for county entities. Finance staff and commissioners said outside auditors have requested reconciliations and bank statements for sheriff-maintained accounts that have not been produced for the 2024 audit. Commissioner Amber (last name not specified in the record) and others said the absence of those statements is delaying completion of the county's external audit and could affect grant eligibility and future bond-rating reviews.

The board specified that the internal audit department should review overtime and financial controls, and that the sheriff provide the outstanding 2024 audit documentation. The motion tied future supplemental funding to the results and to the county receiving the outstanding audit materials. Commissioners said the sheriff would need to return to the board for any additional appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The vote: The board voted to approve the amended amount, with four ayes, zero nays and one abstention (the abstaining commissioner said there was "not enough information"). The board clerk recorded the motion as approving $7,000,000 with the conditions that (1) the internal audit be performed focusing on overtime and the sheriff's accounts and (2) the sheriff provide the outstanding 2024 audit materials to county auditors.

Next steps: Finance and internal audit staff will coordinate scope and timing. Commissioners said the sheriff will be required to return for additional funding if needed; the board also directed that future disbursements be tied to invoices/receipts rather than an unconditional lump-sum release.