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Court debates adding deputy and funding courthouse security as general fund pressures mount
Summary
Fulton County commissioners debated a request to reassign a full-time deputy to courthouse security (supplemented with AOC/ARPA funds), weighing an estimated net salary cost of about $22,480 against growing general-fund subsidies for fee offices; no final closure beyond request for fiscal projections was made.
The Fulton County Fiscal Court heard a detailed proposal from the sheriff’s office to consolidate part-time court security positions into a single full-time deputy assigned to courthouse security and to supplement that position with county funds. County staff said the net salary increase for the new full-time deputy would be roughly $22,480 (salary only) and that benefits would increase that amount; the sheriff’s office described operational needs driven by increased court activity and security duties.
Several commissioners expressed support for improving courthouse security but raised concerns about the effect on the county’s general fund. One member noted that long-standing supplements to fee offices have added sustained pressure on the general fund and cited an approximate $300,000 aggregate supplemental amount. That member asked staff to produce long-term projections showing the general fund’s capacity to absorb recurring supplements before approving additional positions.
The sheriff and supporters said consolidating part-time court security positions into a single, full-time role would improve safety and allow the county to open another deputy position for patrol work. Opponents cautioned that recurring obligations created by supplements can accumulate quickly and urged a projection of the general fund trajectory before committing to ongoing costs.
Separately, the court approved a smaller, operational item: raising the sheriff’s office cash drawer from $100 to $200 to accommodate increased auto inspection fees and make change available for customers.
Next steps: staff will run projections on general-fund impacts and report back at the next meeting so the court can decide on any permanent staffing changes.
