JONESBORO — According to numbers presented to the Clayton County Board of Commissioners at a Tuesday, March 12 work session, the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office is projected to go $14.8 million over budget for fiscal year 2024.
The CCSO has more than $4.86 remaining in its budget but that won’t go far, according to information presented at the meeting. The $4.86 million is a couple of payrolls and medical invoices.
More than $7.4 million of the overage is going to personnel with nearly $2.3 million going to overtime.
It was explained at the meeting that the Clayton County Jail is not properly staff and it’s causing the jail to “bleed out on overtime.”
There are currently 118 corrections officers at the jail but in 2020 there were 170.
Medical costs are accounting for nearly $6.9 million of the overage.
According to information in the presentation, medical costs have reached a new high at the jail.
Rising food costs have also contributed to the overall budget going over what was originally planned.
The dietary supplies budget is expected to go over by more than $500,000.
According to county code, department heads or elected officers are not permitted to exceed budget without prior approval of the County Commission.
County Chair Jeffrey Turner said that in the past, overages have been accommodated as long they are reasonably explained.
“We’re going to have to pay that,” Turner said. “When it comes to taxpayer dollars it’s not always a good look but if we understand and the taxpayers can understand that this is the reason why then it would be more readily acceptable.”
He also said for fiscal year 2025, the concerns need to be addressed so that the County Commission can adequately fund the CCSO budget.
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