Sheriff Says Proposition P May Be Revisited

Crawford County is pulling Proposition P off the April ballot, but Sheriff Darin Layman said it’s something that could be revisited in a few years.

In the meantime, Layman believes he can improve the sheriff’s department with jail rollover funds. 

The county added $912,000 to the 2019 budget. Layman explained that going into 2017, there was $150,000 in rollover funds from housing federal and Gasconade County inmates. 

During 2017 and 2018, $750,000 was accrued.

Layman said he figured out how much money came from rollovers once he met with County Clerk John Martin. Part of the problem in not realizing it earlier was the county’s QuickBooks software, according to Layman.

“I wasn’t able to see it,” he said, adding that with the county’s new software, he will be able to view line items.

Layman has been budgeting for 25 to 30 inmates per day, but during 2017, the jail was housing double that. 

“In 2018, it was in excess of 30,” he said.

The rollovers will go towards those employees who are being paid out of the jail fund, where Layman has already moved several salaries. 

“I can’t put more there if I need to he,” Layman said.

Of the 45 employees, 34 are paid out of the jail fund and 11 from general revenue. Jail fund income is mostly derived from housing inmates

The jail fund is supported by a law enforcement tax that expires in 2020. That tax doesn’t pay any salaries. Instead, it goes towards the bond payment.

“Maybe that’s the time,” Layman said about introducing Proposition P. “It could be Proposition P or some other type of law enforcement tax.”

Layman also is looking ahead to 2023 when the general revenue sales tax increase sunsets. If it’s not renewed past that year, Layman said that could be the opportunity to put Proposition P on the ballot.

Right now, the sheriff said his department is in a better position.

“We’re able to add some services and give some increases, which is good,” Layman said. “But to where we want and where we truly need to be, there will probably be a need for (Proposition P).”

Jail HVAC

HVAC replacement is scheduled to begin sometime this year.

The project will be paid for out of capital improvements and could cost up to $275,000.

To make it more manageable, the cost will be broken up over 2019 and 2020. 

The county’s original bid was $208,000, which was rejected by commissioners in October. But unforeseen issues brought the price tag way up.

Layman said in late November that the current system is on its “last legs.”

Since 2011, the county has spent more than $68,000 on HVAC repairs.