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Simpson County Fiscal Court approves $54,000 startup for school resource officer program
Summary
Simpson County Fiscal Court approved a one-time $54,000 appropriation to start a School Resource Officer program, authorized bids for two trucks and agreed to transfer $13,519.58 from the sheriff’s auction account to fund vehicles and equipment for the program.
Simpson County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes and the Fiscal Court on Aug. 2 approved a one-time $54,000 appropriation to launch a School Resource Officer (SRO) program aimed at placing a POPS-certified officer in each of the county’s five public schools by mid-school year.
The appropriation was approved unanimously (motion by Nathaniel Downey, second by Scott Poston). The court additionally authorized advertising for bids to purchase two trucks for use by the SROs and approved transferring $13,519.58 from the Simpson County Sheriff’s auction account into the sheriff’s vehicle and equipment line to support the program. Meeting minutes say the auction proceeds originated from a June 2021 sale of donated miscellaneous and military vehicles and that a state auditor recommended the proceeds be handled in this way.
Court members framed the vote as an initial investment to staff and equip SROs. The motion to advertise for two trucks was moved by Magistrate Marty Chandler and seconded by Magistrate Myron Thurman; both motions passed unanimously. No timeline was set in the minutes for vehicle procurement beyond the authorization to seek bids.
The SRO appropriation and the auction-account transfer are recorded as part of the court’s routine budget actions for the meeting. The court did not include a detailed staffing timetable or ongoing operating-cost estimate in the minutes.
The Simpson County Fiscal Court meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.; the SRO items will proceed through procurement and budget lines as recorded.
