BURKE COUNTY, Ga. (WFXG) - TENSIONS HAVE REMAINED HIGH BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF ALFONZO WILLIAMS AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHERIFF’S ANNUAL BUDGET. NOW, AS HE IS JUST MONTHS AWAY FROM SEEKING RE-ELECTION, FOX54 SAT DOWN WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT HIS SPENDING.

ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT PACING OVER BUDGET SO FaR THIS FISCAL YEAR. SHERIFF WILLIAMS is AWARE OF THE PROJECTED SHORTFALL AND says IT’S JUSTIFIED.

“WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF TAX PAY DOLLARS, WE KNOW THAT THERE’S GOing to ALWAYS BE SOME CONTROVERSY," he says. "HAVE WE BEEN PERFECT? NO, WE CERTAINLY HAVE NOT. BUT, WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO, WE’VE KEPT OUR PROMISES, WE’VE BEEN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, IT’S PAYING OFF HUGELY.”

LAST YEAR, SHERIFF WILLIAMS SENT A FIVE PAGE LETTER TO THE COMMISSION, ASSERTING THE MONEY HIS DEPARTMENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE OVERSPENT ARE DUE TO UNDER FUNDING, COSTLY MANDATES, AND WHAT HE CALLS "FUZZY MATH."

SHERIFF WILLIAMS SAYS HE’S DOING THINGS RIGHT IN WAYNESBORO. NO MURDERS IN 2023, LIMITED VACANCIES IN HIS OFFICE AND POLICE LEGITiMACY IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT, ACCORDING TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET EXPENSE SUMMARY, IT’S COSTING THE COUNTY.

HIS OFFICE HAS A BUDGET OF $8,311,600 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 30TH. AS OF FEBRUARY, HE HAS SPENT 48% OF THAT BUDGET. A PROJECTED OVERAGE OF $742,650. THE SHERIFF’S office IS THE ONLY ONE TRENDING TO GO OVER BUDGET.

“WE’RE ALL TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING," he says. "I THINK, ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMMISSION SAYS WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WE’VE GOTTA DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THAT. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD BE SPENT, HOW IT SHOULD BE SPENT, WHEN YOU HAVE THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE, ONE CAN’T HELP APPRECIATE WHERE WE ARE.”

According to the documents, MOST OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICES OVERSPENDING COMES FROM SALARIES AND OVERTIME. FURTHER, HE SAY HIS SPENDING IS JUSTIFIED BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS SEEN A DECREASE IN CRIME, A SAFER COMMUNITY AND IMPRESSIVE RESPONSE TIMES.

Williams says he IS WORKING TO OFFSET COSTS BY BRINGING IN STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTs. ALTHOUGH, JUST LAST YEAR, THE COMMISSION DECLINED TO ACCEPT ONE FEDERAL GRANT AWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO DECLINED TO ACCEPT $22,000 IN FUNdrAISED MONEY TO HELP PAY DEPUTIES’ SALARIES.

DESPITE THESE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE COMMISSION, WILLIAMS SAYS HE’S NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON PROVIDING THE BEST EDUCATION, TRAINING AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO HIS STAFF.

WHEN ASKED WHY BURKE COUNTY CITIZENS SHOULD CONSIDER HIM FOR RE-ELECTION, AS THEIR TAX DOLLARS CONTINUE TO BE OVERSPENT BY HIS DEPARTMENT, ACCORDING TO TRENDS, HE SAYS HIS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

“BECAUSE THEY’RE SAFER, THEY’RE BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE 7 YEARS AGO," he says. "LESS PEOPLE ARE DYING ON OUR HIGHWAYS, WE’RE HAVING LESS PEOPLE DIE AT THE HANDS OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS, WE’VE BEEN TOUGH ON GANG ACTIVITY. ALL OF THAT PUT TOGETHER IS A COMBINATION FOR SUCCESS AND YES, IT REQUIRES FUNDING TO DO THAT. WE REALIZE WE DON’T HAVE AN ENDLESS BUDGET, WE’RE WORKING AS BEST WE CAN.”

fox54 DID REACH OUT TO THE COMMISSION, BUT, THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW. SHERIFF WILLIAMS ENCOURAGES THOSE INTERESTED IN FINANCES TO LOOK AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE’S ANNUAL REPORT. HE CLAIMS HIS IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT ISSUES ITS OWN REPORT.

Copyright 2024 WFXG. All rights reserved.