From The Florida Times-Union
September 17, 2008
Camden County deputies ordered to take 5 days off
By Gordon Jackson, The Times-Union
WOODBINE - The ongoing budget constraints imposed on Camden County Sheriff's Office are now hitting deputies where it hurts - in their paychecks. To meet the October payroll, which has three pay periods, outgoing Sheriff Bill Smith is requiring all employees, including management, to take five days off without pay.
County Commissioner Charlene Sears, who is also a Sheriff's Office employee, said some deputies, jailers, bailiffs, supervisors and other staff are taking one or two days off at a time until they accumulate five days off. The other option, she said, was to fire employees. Sears said she took her five days off without pay last week.
"It's really bad," Sears said. "There's really no relief for us."
At least one person is working on some relief.
A White Oak man is so concerned over the deputies' loss of pay that he has established a special account at a local bank to funnel donations to deputies to help them buy Christmas gifts.
Tripp Casey said he set up the account at Southeastern Bank last week after learning of the forced days off.
"They are already underpaid," Casey said. "They are really concerned. They're not getting anything."
Casey said his goal is to raise $10,000 to donate to deputies so they can afford to buy Christmas gifts. Donations can be made to the Deputy Christmas Fund at any Southeastern Bank location in Camden, Glynn, McIntosh or Nassau counties, Casey said.
Sears said she was happy some people in the community understand and sympathize with the financial struggles with the department.
"It's so wonderful," she said of the account. "It's so hurtful to know we can't pay deputies what they're worth."
The forced days off without pay are the result of the County Commission slashing the department's budget for the second year in a row. After Smith spent more than $9 million two years ago, commissioners voted to cut his budget to $6 million instead of raising taxes.
They criticized Smith for issuing county cars to department employees such as record clerks, mechanics, secretaries, jailers and bailiffs. They were also upset after learning money from the jail budget was used to buy quiche,
tiki torches, steaks, Boston butts, cheesecake and ice cream.
The commission voted to dole out the money in monthly increments to ensure the department would not overspend.
Commissioner Steve Berry, a critic of the sheriff, who recently lost his bid for re-election, said the forced days off "sound like a dog and pony show." Problems with the budget should have been addressed two years ago, he said.
"I haven't heard anybody say 'Let's park the cars,'" he said. "They're not going to give up their perks."
But Sears said the department has been doing lots of cutting, including eliminating hot breakfasts for jail inmates, recycling deputies' uniforms instead of buying new ones, withholding pay raises and reducing travel."You cannot run on $6 million," she said. "There's no logic in it. They are hurting people at the bottom."
gordon.jackson@jacksonville.com, (912) 729-3672
Reviewing the
RED:How do we know this? Since Nov. the Sheriff has not turned in expense any reports. Charlene, if you want to do more turn your car in. Brantley Counties Sheriff's budget is less than 2 million, Why is ours so much? They are hurting people at the bottom.Charlene, Your a simple file clerk, why aren't you hurting? Would you suggest doing away with Bill's NAVY. Selling our boats to amke payroll. Of course not. Because your husband is part of the top brass making much more than the bottom people. I bet they love that a county commissioner calls them bottom people.More to come...