The Mississippi County Finance Committee met Monday to review the proposed 2019 budgets for the Sheriff’s Department and the Coroner’s office.
Finance Chairman Michael White moved quickly through the Sheriff’s Department budget and stated that if any JP’s had questions to ask to ask.
Justice Howard “Bubba” Norvell asked Sheriff Dale Cook about how much fine money is owed to the county.
Cook responded by saying he doesn’t know the number off the top of his head.
Norvell responded, “We get $20 from every fine, correct?”
Cook said, “We get $20 for all the fine fees.”
Norvell added, “I think there is around $8 million of fine money out there that hasn’t been collected and if we can collect that and we get $20 for everyone of those, it’d go along way to help fund the jail.”
White added, “Well that’s true. That would be a big blessing.”
Norvell said, “Well, I know there’s around $8 million. I’m not exactly sure of the exact number but we could possibly garnish any checks if they’re working or hire a collection agency to get that money for us. I know the sheriff’s office probably doesn’t have the staff to do it. Siege income tax returns but that’s a lot of money sitting out there that we aren’t getting and it’s people that actually owe the county and should’ve paid their fines.”
County officials did not have the exact amount owed at press time. Sheriff Cook said that he’s been in contact with his lawyers dealing with the old fines and he does believe that there is around $8 million out there in old uncollected fines.
The dollar amount for cameras, tasers and radios were left out of the budget because they are still looking at grants and cost of those items.
In the Sheriff’s helicopter budget, Justice Slyvester Belcher asked Cook how much they fly in the helicopter.
Cook responded, “When we have exercises or out on an emergency for search and rescue like our boat.”
County Corner Mike Godsey presented the budget, which was the same as their 2018 budget. However, Godsey stated that they do need a van that has a stretcher in it and something that separates the cab from the back. White said it wasn’t included in the proposed budget and asked if Godsey could get the numbers for a van they’d like.
Godsey stated it doesn’t have to be new but a working vehicle.
White asked Cook if there were any vehicles available at the Sheriff’s Department for them to use and Cook shook his head no.
Justice Rick Ash told Godsey to come by his office and they’d look on the state website.
White also asked the court if they needed to wait and put it in the 2019 budget or get it soon and the JPs said get it now.
Godsey agreed he’d work with Ash on finding a van that would work for the Coroner’s Office.
Also, White added that in next week’s budget meeting he will bring up raises and bonuses. He also explained that he wants to raise everyone and then give some personal raises to some people. Next week’s budget meeting will be on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Annex Building.