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Board authorizes sheriff to apply for federal JAG equipment grant; county to cover 25% match from fine revenue
Summary
The Amherst County Board approved the sheriff’s request to apply for a federal Byrne/JAG equipment grant estimated at $74,130, with the grant covering an estimated $55,597 and the county’s required match (up to 25 percent) to come from fine revenue if awarded.
Sheriff Ayers told the Amherst County Board of Supervisors that the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) opportunity provides up to $75,000 for law enforcement equipment. The sheriff asked permission to apply for $74,130 in equipment purchases, including digital forensic software (to extract phone data), additional hard drives, 17 automatic external defibrillators for patrol vehicles, 10 spike strip systems, 25 personal computers, evidence storage flash drives, thermal scopes and optics magnifiers.
Sheriff Ayers said the grant would cover approximately $55,597 if fully approved and that the sheriff’s office would cover the remaining estimated $18,005.33 from fine revenue funds; he presented the application deadline as the eighth (date not specified) and an award timeline of roughly 60–90 days after submission.
A supervisor asked the sheriff to coordinate with fire/EMS on AED devices; the sheriff said the department is using compatible ZOLL AEDs to allow equipment interchange with EMS. Another supervisor asked about alternate funding sources such as RSAF; staff said recent RSAF applications were denied at the state level.
Supervisor Adams moved that the board approve the sheriff’s request to apply for the Byrne/JAG grant and allow the 25 percent match to be paid from the sheriff’s office portion of fine revenue funds. The motion passed by voice vote.
