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Bedford County approves $50 community notification fee for registered sex offenders
Summary
The Board adopted Resolution 2617 to allow an additional $50 fee collected from registered sex offenders to fund initial community-notification work (overtime, materials) and possibly an offender-watch app; the sheriff's office will collect the fee and the finance director said administration appears feasible.
The Bedford County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 2617 to permit collection of an additional $50 community notification fee from registered sex offenders, intended to supplement an existing state $150 fee and to fund initial notification activities.
Commissioner Adam Thomas introduced the measure and said the additional funds would be used initially for overtime, office supplies, flyers and other notification materials; longer-term options discussed include a possible subscription-based offender-watch application. Officials said the county sheriff's office will collect the additional fee.
During discussion, a person identified in the meeting as Mr. Clinton described proposed uses for the funds and how the notification rollout would proceed. The finance director, present at the meeting, said, "I haven't seen it yet, but it depends on how they're restricted; that should be in the document. But assuming that's all correct, it would not cause a problem for your department to administer that." The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote.
The board did not provide a detailed multi-year budget or implementation timeline for the program at this meeting; officials said early expenditures would prioritize startup needs such as overtime and notification materials.
