The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 last week on a new budget that cut $2.5 million from the HCSO budget. Sheriff Lewis published several messages on Facebook urging the public to ask the supervisors to restore the cuts. Ministers friendly to the Sheriff conducted a rally Sunday asking the board to restore them as well. The room was packed and an overflow crowd of Hinds County Deputies filled the hallway as they awaited the outcome of the board meeting.
Supervisors Phil Fisher, Kenneth Stokes, and Doug Anderson voted on September 4 for a budget that included the $2.5 million in cuts for the budget. Supervisor Doug Anderson reversed his vote and voted for the restoration. The budget passed last week would provide an across the board $100 monthly raise to all county employees, place more money in the depleted reserve fund, and the paving of 500 miles of county roads. Supervisor Anderson was unable to speak but a few words and instead handed a typed message to Supervisor Graham, which Supervisor Graham read to the audience (He tried to speak at 32:00 mark). Five individuals spoke to the board during the public comment period of the meeting. Four of them were ministers speaking in support of the Sheriff. Then there was community activist David Archie.
Mr. Archie didn't pull any punches or mince any words (19:00). He said exactly what he thought: "It appears that politics is at its best and now it appears that the Bible is at its best." He continued "When the Sheriff was elected he said he would do more with less not more with less....Its not our fault that the Sheriff doesn't known what he's doing."
Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun opposed the cuts, stating it would cost a great deal of money to pay severance and comp time to those terminated if he has to lay off 135 employees and "it will have a direct impact on the general fund." She said employees told her the $100 monthly raise was "not worth having" after taxes and other deductions were removed.
Then there was Supervisor Stokes (34:00). He said the county "treats the employees like Hebrew slaves" and they deserved a raise. He called the raise a "start". Supervisor Fisher (36:00) followed Mr. Stokes in opposing the Sheriff. He said the budget has been "a mess for years" and misspent its surpluses and other funds. He criticized the use of deputies to patrol in Jackson. He said Jackson should be responsible for patrolling in Jackson since it had a larger staff and budget. Stokes followed up (50:30) and accused the Sheriff of using scare tactics to get his way. He said there would not be 135 layoffs and said Ms. Hobson-Calhoun was lying.
The board voted after Supervisor Graham read Mr. Anderson's "statement". Sheriff Lewis then addressed the media and a crowd of supporters across the street from the chancery building. He said "We can't afford one pay cut or to lose one person to get this county moving in the right direction." "This is the largest county in Mississippi. This is the largest law enforcement agency in Mississippi. We need to be looked up as leaders." He said they were going to bring economic development to "Hinds County by making people feel safe".
7 comments:
I hate seeing an issue where either Kenneth Stokes or Tyrone Lewis must be right. Makes my brain feel dirty.
The real whores in this scenario are the preachers who gathered on the steps. Their souls are always for sale for three pieces of silver, a bucket of chicken and a warm HO.
If you live with generational poverty, low educational expectations, a couple of minimum wage jobs if you're lucky, family members in jail, family members who are criminals to be, a few family members who love the Lord, and the local government peace officers as the only protectors on the horizon...you might put some hope in a new Sheriff. I hope the Sheriff uses every grace to improve law and order here.
Phil Fisher = Dumb Ass.
Deputies are in Jackson because that's where the criminals are, dummy.
Secretary 52,000 ? C'mon man you got road Deputies that aren't at 30,000.
come now tyrone dah sheriff!!! don't be so modest..it's not becomming! it is ALL about you and your greatness as you march head long into the glory of fame and crime fighting so we can all sleep like babies at night... allow me to buy you a cup of lemonade!!!
Maybe the secretaries get paid that because a secretary in Jacktown has a higher chance of getting shot than a deputy in Hinds Co :-)
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