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Trojans19,
I don't work with the Sheriff's Department and I don't "know" that they are wasting money, though I have suspicions. Your information is apparently better than mine. I like independent studies conducted by impartial investigators. I really don't suspect that the 911 Center or Prosecuting Attorney's Offices are wasting money, but I don't think it would hurt to include them as they are components of Law Enforcement and would I presume be beneficiaries of the tax. An investigation may turn up a more effecient way of doing business, who knows.
Just my opinion and I could be wrong, won't be the first time.
I strongly suspect that most government entities could be operated more efficiently and if it is found they can't, maybe they could be used as a model for others.
-- Posted by Red_Rhino on Fri, Oct 17, 2008, 10:48 am CDT
Walter said he is against renewing the tax. He said he has worked on such income-producing programs as housing immigrant detainees and found that municipal departments within Scott County could also benefit. The program, Walter said, would allow the county to take in as many as 30 detainees if the county jail has space. If not, he would have the option of asking Scott City, Chaffee or other departments to take them; the cities would be paid $25 a day for the inmates. The county would get $56 per inmate. Walter said jail costs would not change because any costs over and above those mandated by the county would be paid for by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services funds.
Walter said other fees at the jail are collected for booking, telephone services, the commissary and a medical co-pay program.
He said a kiosk recently installed will allow family members to deposit money directly to an inmate's account, reducing the amount of money being handled by county employees and the processing time required.
-- Posted by ifurlucky on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 9:54 pm CDT
Walter said he is against renewing the tax. He said he has worked on such income-producing programs as housing immigrant detainees and found that municipal departments within Scott County could also benefit. The program, Walter said, would allow the county to take in as many as 30 detainees if the county jail has space. If not, he would have the option of asking Scott City, Chaffee or other departments to take them; the cities would be paid $25 a day for the inmates. The county would get $56 per inmate. Walter said jail costs would not change because any costs over and above those mandated by the county would be paid for by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services funds.
Walter said other fees at the jail are collected for booking, telephone services, the commissary and a medical co-pay program.
He said a kiosk recently installed will allow family members to deposit money directly to an inmate's account, reducing the amount of money being handled by county employees and the processing time required. This was an article from the SE Missourian two days before the primary. Now who is lying, the commissioners or the sheriff? If he is bringing in so much money then they don't need the tax! If the sheriff is lying about this money then why would the commissioners sit back and allow him to lie? The jail is not even complete and the money is gone so why in the world would anyone in their right mind vote for this tax. We need to vote all four of these two faced liars out of office. Start with this wanna-be sheriff. Every employee he has used their county vehicle while out campaigning for the primary, while gas was almost $4.00 a gallon, but now they have to save money and park these same county vehicles at the sheriff's department. Hope you people in Scott County wake up and use this last chance to get rid of this two faced lying sheriff! Then lets get rid of the commissioners one at a time. I hope DK makes them accountable for their lies.
-- Posted by ifurlucky on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 9:44 pm CDT
Red Rhino,
I agree that the sheriff's department and the jail are where the county is bleeding money. But in what ways do you think the PA's office and the 911 center are wasting money?
-- Posted by Trojans19 on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 8:32 pm CDT
The new, larger jail also comes with higher costs for staffing and maintenance.
Though the jail holds three times as many prisoners as the one it replaced, the county still must pay to board prisoners in other jails. "Our jail is full all the time," Burger said.
This being said then why did you allow Federal detainees to be housed in the county jail. In the Aug 3 paper Sheriff Walter said 30 detainnes could be held if their was room and if not Scott City, Chaffee or other depts would hold them and the city would get paid $25.00 per day and the county would get $56.00 per day. The county jail should be used for the county for those facing state charges and also for those towns in the county that do not have jails. Also Sheriff Walter stated he was against the tax, so why is the county still pushing it. NO means NO!!!!!
-- Posted by mightymo on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 6:30 pm CDT
Scott County Government must learn to live as the rest of us and live within their budget. I can't go to my employer every time I spend more money than I have and blame my financial predicament on their failure to pay me as much as I would like to spend.
-- Posted by Black_Shadow on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 4:56 pm CDT
I think before they should sway the people to vote for the tax, they should show the line expenditures that the jail and sheriff's department has used during the last 4 years of that this Sheriff held the office. Why are the officers getting a $104 uniform alotment check while Guys Big and Tall are charging the county for uniforms. Why can't this be cut out and the county purchase each deputy 1 uniform a year if needed? They just now parked the cars at the department but only the deputies while the detectives and the other administrators still use the county vehicles to drive home, and drive them to run personal errands. Why is the county paying for cell phones for each person, i.e., Sheriff, Captain, Lt, deputies, secretaries. Other business make you use your personal cell phone and you are luck if you can charge back the calls to the business. I feel that this government has laughed in our faces for the past four years and now are trying to convince us they need more money. How many times did Kelly School District tried the same thing and it took them 10 years to get the new school. Only the citizens can make the county government be accountable or vote them out!
-- Posted by Breezy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 2:55 pm CDT
I am sick of our elected officials running roughshed over the average taxpayer.
They act like high fuel prices is a problem unique to their situation.
They use these initiatve taxes for things that they never were intended for, and when the sun finally sets, there is always a budget crunch followed the usual threats of service interuption, higher property taxes, and out of control crime rates.
Bring it on! I say try to raise our property taxes in this economy!
Why can't government operate within it's means like the rest of us have to? Oh yeah, they have more guns!
-- Posted by lumpy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 11:58 am CDT
I agree with Lumpy and Bohica. The jail is not what it should have been and was not run properly for years. A lot of money had to be spent on repairs that someone should have been able to foresee. More effort should be taken to recoup money spent for housing of prisoners through court cost collection as well as reimbursement on the cost of housing parolees for DOC. Maybe the County Commission should have someone look into how funds are being spent in the Sheriff's Department, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 911 Center and elsewhere with an eye toward staffing and the cost of the facilities used.
I am very pro law enforcement, but I am also concerned about the proper use of the tax payers money and I will vote NO on any tax increase.
-- Posted by Red_Rhino on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 11:56 am CDT
Scott Welton seems to be a good reporter but needs to ask more indepth questions and not just report what is spoon fed to him by Burger and the other officials. It also seems odd that the Sheriff was not at this meeting. During the primary election he stated the tax money was not needed that he had plenty of money that he was bringing in, and said it was new money. Could it be he is bieng quite because is has a conservative opponent in the general election who may reduce the budget and show just how much money has been wasted and how much more the budget was which produced a net loss from previous years.
-- Posted by 340 on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 11:38 am CDT
Great translation Lumpy, great insight.
-- Posted by 340 on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 11:21 am CDT
As a public service, I have dusted off my old B.S. translator, and will feed the juiciest tidbits from this article through it now.
"Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said that law enforcement expenses other than the jail construction the former tax helped pay for are still there."
Translation: We are spending your tax money on things that it was not intended for.
"'Our jail is full all the time," Burger said."
Translation: We started with funding and a blank piece of paper, and built an inadequete facility. Take that taxpayers!
"In January, county officials are facing their first fiscal year without the $1.7 million the old law enforcement sales tax brought in."
Translation: Snap! Did we already spend that $1.7 mill cause I just remembered something about a sunrise, er, sunset, er, some kinda clause.
"Burger said commissioners are seeking support from all the cities in the county, starting with the largest, Sikeston, and working their way down."
Translation: If we sweeten this thing up with enough pork for Sikeston, and get their endorcement, we don't have to worry about it passing anywhere else. Buahh! Buahh! Buahh, ha, ha, ha!
"Burger said commissioners are considering including a property tax abatement in the ballot language as an incentive to voters to approve the tax."
Translation: If you yokels don't vote this thing in, we are going to raise your property taxes! Either way, we are going to get our money.
"Burger said commissioners are leaning toward putting a sales tax proposal before voters during the February election."
Translation: Nobody votes in the dead of winter. Let's put it on the ballot in February!
-- Posted by lumpy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 9:03 am CDT
The commissions changed the floor plan of the jail after the tax passed reduced the size cut out items within the jail so they would have a tax larger then was needed so they would have an excess to spend on projects that were not jail or law enforcement related. They succeded in doing that with only a few people aware of what was happening. Now they want to fool us again. Don't let it happened. Vote no when it comes up, and IT will be on the ballot in Feb. They have made up their minds. Call your Commissioners and tell if they put this on the ballot they will be voted out of office. Its not needed and in these hard economic times they ought to have more sense.
-- Posted by 340 on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 8:45 am CDT
I do not agree with the new law enforcement tax. This tax was for law enforcement and the Commissioners put it in the budget to use in all departments. They have abused the tax by expending money without thought, i.e., renovating the Sheriff's office, buying new cars, but not putting back in the jail. The only department that should be cutting abusive spending should be this Sheriff's Department. Why is the Sheriff in another building, why is his office not in the Jail or what other counties call "The Justice Center." This would give the Courts more room. There is unused space in that jail that could be utilized, but it isn't. This government has used poor business sense when it comes to managing the counties money - it is time for a change for everyone in the county offices and replace then with people who can balance a budget, run a department fair and honest. I can't vote for more taxes when they can't work with what they have.
-- Posted by Breezy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 8:18 am CDT
No, no, no!
No new taxes!
Here is the problem with the "law enforcement" tax. It was originally passed by the voters in good faith that the sales tax was to pay for the constuction of the new jail.
Newsflash: the new jail is built!
These commisioners can't keep their greedy little pea pickers out of the candy jar, can they? They get used to the idea of this money and start placing it into their budget.
Sorry Com. Burger, the sun has set on this sales tax!
And if you even THINK about raising our property taxes in this hostile economy, we will vote your happy a$$ out of office so fast your head won't even have a chance to spin!
-- Posted by lumpy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, 8:02 am CDT
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Trojans19,
I don't work with the Sheriff's Department and I don't "know" that they are wasting money, though I have suspicions. Your information is apparently better than mine. I like independent studies conducted by impartial investigators. I really don't suspect that the 911 Center or Prosecuting Attorney's Offices are wasting money, but I don't think it would hurt to include them as they are components of Law Enforcement and would I presume be beneficiaries of the tax. An investigation may turn up a more effecient way of doing business, who knows.
Just my opinion and I could be wrong, won't be the first time.
I strongly suspect that most government entities could be operated more efficiently and if it is found they can't, maybe they could be used as a model for others.
Walter said he is against renewing the tax. He said he has worked on such income-producing programs as housing immigrant detainees and found that municipal departments within Scott County could also benefit. The program, Walter said, would allow the county to take in as many as 30 detainees if the county jail has space. If not, he would have the option of asking Scott City, Chaffee or other departments to take them; the cities would be paid $25 a day for the inmates. The county would get $56 per inmate. Walter said jail costs would not change because any costs over and above those mandated by the county would be paid for by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services funds.
Walter said other fees at the jail are collected for booking, telephone services, the commissary and a medical co-pay program.
He said a kiosk recently installed will allow family members to deposit money directly to an inmate's account, reducing the amount of money being handled by county employees and the processing time required.
Walter said he is against renewing the tax. He said he has worked on such income-producing programs as housing immigrant detainees and found that municipal departments within Scott County could also benefit. The program, Walter said, would allow the county to take in as many as 30 detainees if the county jail has space. If not, he would have the option of asking Scott City, Chaffee or other departments to take them; the cities would be paid $25 a day for the inmates. The county would get $56 per inmate. Walter said jail costs would not change because any costs over and above those mandated by the county would be paid for by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services funds.
Walter said other fees at the jail are collected for booking, telephone services, the commissary and a medical co-pay program.
He said a kiosk recently installed will allow family members to deposit money directly to an inmate's account, reducing the amount of money being handled by county employees and the processing time required.
This was an article from the SE Missourian two days before the primary.
Now who is lying, the commissioners or the sheriff? If he is bringing in so much money then they don't need the tax! If the sheriff is lying about this money then why would the commissioners sit back and allow him to lie? The jail is not even complete and the money is gone so why in the world would anyone in their right mind vote for this tax. We need to vote all four of these two faced liars out of office. Start with this wanna-be sheriff. Every employee he has used their county vehicle while out campaigning for the primary, while gas was almost $4.00 a gallon, but now they have to save money and park these same county vehicles at the sheriff's department. Hope you people in Scott County wake up and use this last chance to get rid of this two faced lying sheriff! Then lets get rid of the commissioners one at a time. I hope DK makes them accountable for their lies.
Red Rhino,
I agree that the sheriff's department and the jail are where the county is bleeding money. But in what ways do you think the PA's office and the 911 center are wasting money?
The new, larger jail also comes with higher costs for staffing and maintenance.
Though the jail holds three times as many prisoners as the one it replaced, the county still must pay to board prisoners in other jails. "Our jail is full all the time," Burger said.
This being said then why did you allow Federal detainees to be housed in the county jail. In the Aug 3 paper Sheriff Walter said 30 detainnes could be held if their was room and if not Scott City, Chaffee or other depts would hold them and the city would get paid $25.00 per day and the county would get $56.00 per day. The county jail should be used for the county for those facing state charges and also for those towns in the county that do not have jails.
Also Sheriff Walter stated he was against the tax, so why is the county still pushing it. NO means NO!!!!!
Scott County Government must learn to live as the rest of us and live within their budget. I can't go to my employer every time I spend more money than I have and blame my financial predicament on their failure to pay me as much as I would like to spend.
I think before they should sway the people to vote for the tax, they should show the line expenditures that the jail and sheriff's department has used during the last 4 years of that this Sheriff held the office. Why are the officers getting a $104 uniform alotment check while Guys Big and Tall are charging the county for uniforms. Why can't this be cut out and the county purchase each deputy 1 uniform a year if needed? They just now parked the cars at the department but only the deputies while the detectives and the other administrators still use the county vehicles to drive home, and drive them to run personal errands. Why is the county paying for cell phones for each person, i.e., Sheriff, Captain, Lt, deputies, secretaries. Other business make you use your personal cell phone and you are luck if you can charge back the calls to the business. I feel that this government has laughed in our faces for the past four years and now are trying to convince us they need more money. How many times did Kelly School District tried the same thing and it took them 10 years to get the new school. Only the citizens can make the county government be accountable or vote them out!
I am sick of our elected officials running roughshed over the average taxpayer.
They act like high fuel prices is a problem unique to their situation.
They use these initiatve taxes for things that they never were intended for, and when the sun finally sets, there is always a budget crunch followed the usual threats of service interuption, higher property taxes, and out of control crime rates.
Bring it on! I say try to raise our property taxes in this economy!
Why can't government operate within it's means like the rest of us have to? Oh yeah, they have more guns!
I agree with Lumpy and Bohica. The jail is not what it should have been and was not run properly for years. A lot of money had to be spent on repairs that someone should have been able to foresee. More effort should be taken to recoup money spent for housing of prisoners through court cost collection as well as reimbursement on the cost of housing parolees for DOC. Maybe the County Commission should have someone look into how funds are being spent in the Sheriff's Department, Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 911 Center and elsewhere with an eye toward staffing and the cost of the facilities used.
I am very pro law enforcement, but I am also concerned about the proper use of the tax payers money and I will vote NO on any tax increase.
Scott Welton seems to be a good reporter but needs to ask more indepth questions and not just report what is spoon fed to him by Burger and the other officials. It also seems odd that the Sheriff was not at this meeting. During the primary election he stated the tax money was not needed that he had plenty of money that he was bringing in, and said it was new money. Could it be he is bieng quite because is has a conservative opponent in the general election who may reduce the budget and show just how much money has been wasted and how much more the budget was which produced a net loss from previous years.
Great translation Lumpy, great insight.
As a public service, I have dusted off my old B.S. translator, and will feed the juiciest tidbits from this article through it now.
"Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said that law enforcement expenses other than the jail construction the former tax helped pay for are still there."
Translation: We are spending your tax money on things that it was not intended for.
"'Our jail is full all the time," Burger said."
Translation: We started with funding and a blank piece of paper, and built an inadequete facility. Take that taxpayers!
"In January, county officials are facing their first fiscal year without the $1.7 million the old law enforcement sales tax brought in."
Translation: Snap! Did we already spend that $1.7 mill cause I just remembered something about a sunrise, er, sunset, er, some kinda clause.
"Burger said commissioners are seeking support from all the cities in the county, starting with the largest, Sikeston, and working their way down."
Translation: If we sweeten this thing up with enough pork for Sikeston, and get their endorcement, we don't have to worry about it passing anywhere else. Buahh! Buahh! Buahh, ha, ha, ha!
"Burger said commissioners are considering including a property tax abatement in the ballot language as an incentive to voters to approve the tax."
Translation: If you yokels don't vote this thing in, we are going to raise your property taxes! Either way, we are going to get our money.
"Burger said commissioners are leaning toward putting a sales tax proposal before voters during the February election."
Translation: Nobody votes in the dead of winter. Let's put it on the ballot in February!
The commissions changed the floor plan of the jail after the tax passed reduced the size cut out items within the jail so they would have a tax larger then was needed so they would have an excess to spend on projects that were not jail or law enforcement related. They succeded in doing that with only a few people aware of what was happening. Now they want to fool us again. Don't let it happened. Vote no when it comes up, and IT will be on the ballot in Feb. They have made up their minds. Call your Commissioners and tell if they put this on the ballot they will be voted out of office. Its not needed and in these hard economic times they ought to have more sense.
I do not agree with the new law enforcement tax. This tax was for law enforcement and the Commissioners put it in the budget to use in all departments. They have abused the tax by expending money without thought, i.e., renovating the Sheriff's office, buying new cars, but not putting back in the jail. The only department that should be cutting abusive spending should be this Sheriff's Department. Why is the Sheriff in another building, why is his office not in the Jail or what other counties call "The Justice Center." This would give the Courts more room. There is unused space in that jail that could be utilized, but it isn't. This government has used poor business sense when it comes to managing the counties money - it is time for a change for everyone in the county offices and replace then with people who can balance a budget, run a department fair and honest. I can't vote for more taxes when they can't work with what they have.
No, no, no!
No new taxes!
Here is the problem with the "law enforcement" tax. It was originally passed by the voters in good faith that the sales tax was to pay for the constuction of the new jail.
Newsflash: the new jail is built!
These commisioners can't keep their greedy little pea pickers out of the candy jar, can they? They get used to the idea of this money and start placing it into their budget.
Sorry Com. Burger, the sun has set on this sales tax!
And if you even THINK about raising our property taxes in this hostile economy, we will vote your happy a$$ out of office so fast your head won't even have a chance to spin!