The DeKalb County Commission gave the go-ahead last week to Sheriff Patrick Ray to apply to the state for school resource officer funding. If approved by the state, the sheriff would receive state backing to fully fund SROs in each school in the county. If the state approves the application, it will also allow the sheriff to transfer already allocated SRO funding in his budget to add another detective and two more deputies to his department.
The County Commission voted unanimously to approve the sheriff’s proposal at its regular monthly meeting on June 26.
County Mayor Matt Adcock told the commission how the motion should be officially worded saying, “This motion would allow the sheriff to apply for the state-funded five school resource officers at $75,000 each and their salaries are to go into the salary line item for deputies and the remainder of the money will go into the line items in his (sheriff’s) budget to fund SRO equipment at each school. This motion also allows the sheriff to keep $195,000 in his budget for two deputies and one detective. The sheriff has agreed to turn back the remainder of the money for two SROs but this will add three more officers to his maintenance of effort.”
After recent national tragedies, including one in Nashville, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted legislation this year to fund up to $75,000 per school for an SRO Officer. According to Sheriff Ray state is going to give $75,000 to each school for salaries, with the balance to be used for SRO uniforms, guns, vests, gun safes, vehicles, etc.
Currently, three SROs in DeKalb County are funded by the county, with two funded by the school board. All five SRO’s are under the authority of the sheriff’s department with those salaries in his budget.
“With the benefits and all it comes to a total of $323,982,” Sheriff Ray explained. “The school system reimbursed their part ($128,982) for two SROs back to the county general fund.”
With “maintenance of effort”, the county cannot cut salaries, or the number of employees in the sheriff’s department budget without the sheriff’s consent, but Sheriff Ray told the commission that he will surrender the maintenance of effort requirement for the two positions that the school district funds. He will keep the maintenance of effort for the other three, funded by the county, and shift their duties from SROs to one detective and two deputy positions.
Sheriff Ray also said that another SRO is needed at the DCHS and he has asked Director of Schools Patrick Cripps to continue to fund one of the two current SRO positions to add the additional position at the high school.
The entire plan is contingent on the state approving the sheriff’s application for funding.
