Sheriff Nicholson expressed to the BOC;

“I don’t want them, I got to tell you I don’t want them. But to give you the money you are asking for me to meet I got to have them.”

During the budget review in May it was questioned why the Sheriff’s Office was so out of line on its budget. The Sheriff’s Office Amended Budget expenditures were expected to be $1,538,180.00 (including the detention center) at the end of April. However, expenditures for month end April came in at $1,503,193.00 (including detention center), which is $34,987 under the total expenditure budget (32.6 %).

So the Sheriff has the expenses in line but what about the revenue side? Here is where we find the problem. The revenue side of the Sheriffs budget should be $150,000 for the end of April (includes detention center). But at the end of April, the Sheriff’s office had only brought in $64,983.00. This is a deficit of $85,017 and at this rate the revenue shortfall for the year would be $255,051.

How can the Sheriff’s Office balance its’ 2011 budget? This is where Fulton County Inmates come in; Action on Resolution #11-035, Authorize the chairman to execute the Intergovernmental Agreement between Gilmer County and Fulton County for Inmate Housing. (JC).

On May 26 the BOC proposed the above Resolution for approval. This would allow for Gilmer County to house Fulton County inmates. At the opening of the meeting Sheriff Nicholson explained some of the details of the contract to the BOC and asked for it to pass and the contract be signed ASAP.
Sheriff Nicholson expressed to the BOC;

“I don’t want them, I got to tell you I don’t want them. But to give you the money you are asking for me to meet I got to have them.”

FYN asked;

“Fulton County, they supply all the transportation back and forth for the inmates?”

Sheriff Nicholson;

“No, we have to do the transportation ourselves. Hall County is our number one competitor. Hall County has built a huge jail and is paying for it by housing other people’s inmates. They are charging $35 per day which is what we were charging 10 years ago.”

FYN asked the Sheriff if he realized in order to make up the shortfall for the departments projected revenue it would take an average of 23 to 24 Fulton County inmates to be housed full time for the remainder of the year. Can we do that?
Sheriff Nicholson:

“Yes”.

FYN: Will there be any additional staff needed?
Sheriff Nicholson:

“No”.

FYN; Do you get a choice of which inmates we get?
Sheriff Nicholson;

“No, we do not. But in the contract in the past we could pre-screen them by their criminal history prior to accepting them. Now we got to pretty much take what they send but there is a clause in the contract that if we just get a bad feeling when they walk in the door we send them right back.”

FYN: Does Fulton County pay for medical treatment?
Sheriff Nicholson:

“Yes”.

The last question came from Post Commissioner Danny Hall,

“What profit is there on the $35 a day”?

Watch the video below and hear Sheriff Nicholson’s answer.

BOC Inmate contract discussion with Fulton County. FYN asks Sheriff Nicholson Questions from Fetch on Vimeo.

FYN spoke with Tony Pritchett, Department head for Fire and Rescue, concerning his budget. The expenditures at the end of April should have been $713,590.00. The actual expenditures are $764,359. This amount is over by $50,769. At this rate the department would end up being $152,307 over on expenditures.
Now we explain the bright side to this budget – the revenue. Fire And Rescue had brought in $271,467 at the end of April. If revenue continues at that rate through the year the department would bring in $814,401 which would be $112,401 over the projected $702,000 for the year.
If Fire & Rescue 2011 budget continues at this rate it would still be short $39,906. FYN asked Mr. Pritchett about his budget and if he would explain the higher expenditures and the increase of revenue being more than expected. He explained that his expenditures were higher due to the storms early in the year. He could not budget for the extent of the damage that was caused by the storms in Gilmer County. As for the revenue, he explained that as part of his position, he was to promote Gilmer County Ambulance Transport Service. One example he gave was that the County transported a lot of dialysis patients, provided nursing home transportation, and offered many other medical transport services. I asked him if these services could make up for the shortfall. Mr. Pritchett feels the department can bring in the revenue needed to balance the Fire and Rescue budget, assuming there are no more county disasters which are impossible to know how to put in the budget.

FYN wants to thank Sheriff Nicholson and Fire and Rescue Chief Pritchett for allowing us to ask these questions.

Below read related stories:
Gilmer County storm damage report
BOC May Budget workshop