County Commissioner Questions SCMPD Budget

Cuts are on the way.
The Chatham County Commission met for their final budget workshop today. Hearing from groups like Crimestoppers, Building Safety and the Metropolitan Planning Committee the commission now has to decide where they want to make cuts.
County Manager Russ Abolt says to balance the budget either cuts have to be made, fees need to be introduced or taxes need to be raised.
But as News Three’s Alice Massimi found out one County Commissioner says all of this can be avoided if one department’s budget is chopped.
Commissioner Dean Kicklighter pointed out today the police department’s budget accounts for half of the 28 million dollar Special Services District Budget.
Not necessarily a bad thing if you are into living in a safe community but what Commissioner Kicklighter is fired up about is how much the county is paying this year, compared to what they paid prior to the city and county police merger in 2004.
“Now that we are looking at slashing every other service for the unincorporated residents it’s time to take a really good look and understand what exactly we are receiving for double budget, “ says Kicklighter.
Claiming the formula for payment agreed upon in 2004 is no good Kicklighter says a new formula needs to be worked out.
But Chris Morrill the Assistant City Manager admits the cost has gone up but points out so has the service, citing more officers.
“We’ve increased the average officer pay from 32,000 to 42,000 so we can attract and keep the best officers and we make sure that they are fully equipped and that they are well trained and that costs money,” points out Morrill.
To give you some figures here Morrill says the police departments combined budget is 68 million dollars; currently the county only picks up 19 million while the city chips in 49.
It’s a story we will continue to follow.