Columbiana Co. sheriff seeks $2.9M budget

Sheriff David Smith told
commissioners the
department is just getting
by financially.

LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff David L. Smith asked county commissioners for a modest increase in his budget request for next year.

Smith said Wednesday he wanted $2.9 million to operate his department.

Çommissioners gave the sheriff’s office $2.1 million for this year, and $2.2 million in 2006.

Smith’s budget, like others, was cut this year after voters failed to renew a 0.5-percent sales tax. The commissioners have since enacted the tax, which should bring in $4 million in additional revenue for the county in 2008.

Smith said he had his office using all Chevrolets to make repairs easier, and had bought extended vehicle warranties that had saved money on repairs.

He added that he has started a rotation to replace one-third of the cruisers each year. The department gets rid of a vehicle once it has been driven about 130,000 miles.

“Most agencies get rid of cars at 100,000 miles,” he said.

Ballistic vests are made of fabric that deteriorates and also must be replaced every five years. The vests come with an expiration date and must be taken out of use on that day, he said.

Smith said that financially, “We’re just keeping our heads above water. We’re not gaining any ground.”

The state has passed a mandatory training program for peace officers but has not set the number of training hours that will be needed for an officer to keep his certification as a deputy. Without the extra training, Smith said, an officer would lose his peace officer’s certification from the state and couldn’t work until he or she completed the training.

Gasoline prices have also taken a toll on the department’s budget. Smith told commissioners, “If you said the BP bill would be $165,000, I would have said you were crazy.”

Commissioners praised Smith for working with a tight budget. “I commend you for what you did with what you had,” said Commissioner Dan Bing.

The sheriff did not specifically ask for more funds to fight the county’s growing drug problem.

County Prosecutor Robert Herron last week request $1.7 million for 2008. Herron said he needed to add more workers to handle the growing number of criminal cases tied to drugs.

His office is expected to spend $1.2 million this year. His office spent $893,137 in 2006.

County Coroner Dr. William Graham also asked for an increase in 2008 because of drug-related deaths. The coroner’s office received $245,000 for this year.

Dr. Graham said he asked for $372,207 next year.