The Russell County Fiscal Court voted to table the sheriff’s annual budget at Monday’s fiscal court meeting.
A sticking point in the discussion, at least for Magistrate Mickey Garner, was which budget the sheriff’s salary comes out of.
For many years in Russell County, the sheriff’s salary has been paid by the fiscal court. However, that isn’t the case in every county.
In Adair County, the sheriff’s salary is included in the sheriff’s budget. Other counties with similar populations, such as Rockcastle, Marion, Fleming and Mason counties, do the same.
However, in Rockcastle County, the fiscal court budgets a little over $200,000 for program support and benefits for the sheriff’s office.
In Fleming County, the fiscal court pays for hazardous duty retirement for deputies. In Marion County, both the sheriff’s salary and funds for hazardous duty retirement come out of the sheriff’s budget.
A special-called fiscal court meeting is expected to take place sometime next week for the fiscal court to discuss and vote on the sheriff’s budget. We’ll provide details of when that meeting will take place when it is announced.
