Published: May 09, 2008 12:13 pm         

Overtime means 'big money'

We, James J. Stakem, president of The Board of Commissioners of Allegany County, and Robert M. Hutcheson, Allegany County commissioner, wish to reply to recent media coverage about Allegany County Sheriff David A. Goad's overtime expenditures in his road patrol division.

The board of commissioners of Allegany County began the process of opening budget work sessions to the public several years ago. To date, we have provided the public, various department heads, and outside agencies with 11 public meetings to discuss their needs for the upcoming FY 2009 budget.

We will also be providing additional opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to discuss the same with us during all public meetings through the end of May. Until recently, Allegany County Sheriff David A. Goad has refused to meet publicly with us. We are pleased that the sheriff has finally agreed to meet with us following our latest invitation. This meeting is set for May 15 at 9:30 a.m.

The sheriff has sole authority and sole responsibility for his budget administration. For the record, the sheriff's road patrol division operating budget has increased every single year. The sheriff's proposed budget for this division in the upcoming fiscal year is an increase of $98,550, or, 5.2 percent, over the current fiscal year. Specifically, the FY 2008 original budget is $1,865,963 and the FY 2009 proposed budget is $1,964,513.

At the end of FY 2008, the sheriff's road patrol division is projected to be over budget by 12.36 percent, or $250,000-plus. Based on statistics for the first nine months of FY 2008, if every county operating department overspent to the same extent, it would cost $5,745,009.

To compensate, the real estate tax rate would have to be increased an additional 14 percent on every property tax bill to generate this amount of money. During the course of our public hearings to date, we have not heard from one citizen who has requested that we raise taxes to accommodate this type of public expenditure.

Although the sheriff's responsibilities have decreased in areas of patrol dispatching, overtime expenditures continue to increase.

Overtime expenditures "big money." In calendar year 2007, overtime expenses for just three of the sheriff's road patrol personnel topped a combined $72,500. There are comparable examples year after year. Without a public commitment on the sheriff's part during the past three months, we were obligated to make adjustments to the sheriff's road patrol budget to assist him in trying to better manage overtime in his budget. Our decision was not personal, it was certainly not political.

Allegany County Government is confronting alarming circumstances under the umbrella of a sagging national economy. There is the skyrocketing cost of fuel, escalating healthcare costs, numerous unfunded mandates, significant decreases in state funding affecting many areas, etc. It is essential for us to represent all the taxpayers.

The Maryland State Police provide law enforcement throughout Allegany County. The sheriff is responsible only for the unincorporated areas. The residents of Cumberland, Frostburg, Westernport, and Lonaconing provide police protection for their citizens. Following the sheriff's recent decision to discontinue the midnight patrol shift, the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police has personally informed us that his department is willing to provide whatever support our community may need beyond their current force levels to address this decision.

Together with the county administrator we have offered the sheriff managerial guidance from internal sources for his road patrol division. The sheriff has not taken advantage of these resources.

It is critically important to emphasize that the Board of County Commissioners retained Lindsay & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, Towson, to analyze overtime in the road patrol division. The "Report on the Policies, Procedures, and Internal Controls of the Allegany County Sheriff's Office" (2006) documents the fiscal mismanagement and lack of managerial supervision in the road patrol division.

This professional analysis was preceded by the Stottlemyer Report (2005) which also revealed overtime reporting irregularities. These reports necessitate an obligation on our part to insist that overtime expenditures within the sheriff's road patrol division be thoroughly monitored. Failure to do so would constitute misfeasance on our part.

James J. Stakem, president
Robert M. Hutcheson
Allegany County Commissioners