BY JIM BUTLER

Sheriff’s Office salaries and benefits required $33.8 million of the FY 2024 budget.

The audit report for that year (ending last June 30) shows General Fund revenues of $55.2 million and other income of $635,000.

General Fund expenses totaled $55.7 million The operation margin increased the year-end Fund Balance to $24.7 million, the audit shows.

Auditors reported no significant issues with the department’s accounting practices.

The report does not note the alleged theft of more than $25,000 by a former employee, likely because that did not involve public funds.

The employee allegedly took from a fund voluntarily contributed to by employees for special uses (flowers, food, etc.) involving employee families.

She was charged with theft of more than $25,000 and malfeasance. The November 2023 case then entered the judicial canyon, not heard from since.

Taxes accounted for about $36 million of the General Fund revenue – property tax $19 million and sales tax $17 million.

On the spending side the Enforcement Division cost $10.1 million, about $7.9 million of that payroll cost.

The Corrections Divisions (DC 1, 2 and 3) accounted for $14.5 million, with $11.4 million in payroll and benefits.

Other divisions and spending totals:

Executive $5.6 million;

Investigative $4.4 million;

Drug Enforcement $2.0 million;

School Resource Officers $4.7 million;

Capital Outlay $2.7 million.