SHORT TERM LOAN FROM STATE ALLEVIATES PRESSURE ON SHERIFF DEPARTMENT RUNNING CAPACITY FOR NEAR FUTURE;
NEW MONEY COMES AS SHERIFF READY TO START TO HOLD DRUG FORFEITURES AUCTIONS; SHERIFF PLEADS WITH COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PAY THEIR DELINQUENT TAXES TO HELP FUND HIS POLICE AGENCY.
AUGUST 27, 2019 – written by WADE QUEEN
2019 has been a rough year for the Martin County, Kentucky Sheriff Department, due to severe financial issues in the county that led to major budget cutbacks.
But the future is looking less dire than it was for the sheriff’s department – somewhat though.
A short term loan was given to the Martin County Sheriff Department from the state, with strings attached, as well as beginning to auction property taken from drug investigations.
That is then topped with the plead to county residents who have delinquent taxes to pay what they owe so that the funds from those accounts would bring much better help to the sheriff department/
But for the last few weeks, the Martin County Sheriff Department has been running at the bare minimum level.
“You know, it’s just been me and one deputy and volunteers,” said Sheriff John H. Kirk.
Sheriff Kirk told in an interview with Hazard, Ky. television station WYMT, that those who are viewing their situation from the outside, things may be looking better due to new money funding sent from the state. But that is not exactly the case, at least according to the sheriff.
“It’s basically a band-aid. It’s a temporary patch,” Sheriff Kirk pointed out in his explanation.
The sheriff said a $60,000 state advancement will help his department in multiple ways.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to hire a couple of deputies with that money,” Kirk said .
Sheriff Kirk said he hopes this loan will help keep the department afloat for the next six months.
“It’s not free money. It’s money that has to be paid back in December,” Sheriff Kirk said.
Officials with the Martin County Sheriff Department are also in the process of bringing back normal office hours, and paying off their bill to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. They reported that if the two new deputy hires pass another test, both of them should be working on the road within two months.
However, that does not mean the sheriff department is “out of the woods.”
“I’m still short a bookkeeper. My wife is having to do that with no cost to the taxpayer,” said Kirk. “Plus, you never know when random expenses will pop up, like vehicle repairs.”
The Martin County Sheriff Department took another hit when it began paying employee’s fringe benefits.
Sheriff Kirk said he needs the money he had when he first started four and a half years ago. Last year the Martin County fiscal court cut the sheriff’s department by $75,000.
“Your biggest expense in a sheriff’s office is your salaries,” the sheriff pointed out.
Although the outlook seems like it is improving, Sheriff Kirk is still worried about what he will do in the long run.
“Hopefully it’ll hold me over until we start collecting taxes,” Kirk said. “Hopefully, maybe next year, the fiscal court will be able to go back to giving us better funding .
Sheriff Kirk explained that for another potential source for money to fund his office, they are also accepting sealed bids for a truck the sheriff department received through a drug forfeiture. The truck is a 2001 Silver Toyota Tacoma SR5. Sealed bids for the truck will open on September 2, at 12:00 P.M.
Sheriff Kirk said that the people who live in Martin County could also do their part to help the department.
“If everybody came in and paid their delinquent taxes right now and everything sold, we would be in much better shape,” Sheriff Kirk claimed.
Here are the Martin County Sheriff Department’s normal business hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Individuals who wish to bid for the Toyota Tacoma can mail sealed bids for the truck to the sheriff’s department at this mailing address:
P.O. Box 407
Inez, Ky 41224
