Commissioners agree to pay sheriff’s legal bills from the sheriff’s budget but decline to add new appropriations

Burke County commissioners voted to pay outstanding insurance deductibles and legal invoices tied to the sheriff’s office from existing sheriff’s budget lines rather than appropriate an additional $37,004.67 to the sheriff’s department.

Staff provided a list of invoices and deductibles submitted by the sheriff’s office, including multiple items and attorney invoices, totaling $37,004.67. County staff reminded the commission that bills must be charged to a department; attendees discussed whether the board should appropriate extra funds or require the sheriff to cover the costs within current budget lines. Some commissioners expressed concern about the sheriff’s spending priorities and noted other discretionary expenses in the sheriff’s office budget.

One commissioner moved to pay the bills out of the sheriff’s current budget; another commissioner seconded, and the motion carried. Meeting attendees noted the sheriff had previously asked that bills not be paid without his authorization; staff said invoices must be charged to a department and the county pays invoices as they arrive. Commissioners asked staff to track budget lines closely as the sheriff’s office was projected to run out of funds before the last September payroll without adjustments.

Why it matters: the decision resolves immediate vendor invoices while leaving the sheriff’s operational budget unchanged; commissioners said they will monitor spending and that budget transfers or internal adjustments may be necessary if lines run short.

Next steps: staff will process payment of the listed invoices against the sheriff’s existing budget lines and continue to monitor department spending through the remainder of the fiscal year.