The Sheriff's department budget.

[Anonymous]

I tripped up on the site while researching information for Lexington County on the Internet. I ended up spending the next few hours reading the letters and then became interested in some of the things that were mentioned.

You see, I am a business man and always looking for a better way of doing business and my hobby is studying corporate structures, accounting issues and more. I became interested in the Accreditation that was mentioned and some of the comments that were in the letters I read. This information I present here is strictly my opinion based on what I have researched (again, a hobby and business interest) but found very interesting. I really do not care who wins or looses this election, but as a taxpayer have some concerns that need to be voiced.

Obviously there is some political mudslinging going on. This is an election so it is to be expected. From a business standpoint look at some of the specifics that were mentioned.

1- CALEA Accreditation. I did my research to learn more about it. I found that in the business world it is similar to the ISO 9000 standard. The ISO 9000 standard is awarded to businesses who meet a degree of standardization that can assure the public (consumer) they are a good business to deal with. The ISO 9000 standard like CALEA Accreditation requires that various task are handle in a certain manner, which of course requires the personnel to handle this task. If this is not already being handled by an existing employee, the additional tasks are given to employees or new ones are hired.

In the business world you have competition, so your hope is that a new customer in the market for your product will be swayed by the fact you have the ISO 9000 rating. Now a customer who has dealt with your company before and knows your company is sound in the manner they treat customers could care less about an ISO 9000 rating. So basically it is a form of advertising.

Now the question to be asked is why would a sheriffs department need to have an “ISO” rating or in this case the CALEA Accreditation? Is there a competing sheriffs department that a citizen can call for help so one needs to show they are better than their competition? No, there is not. Is it a form of “I’m better than you” to other police or sheriffs, kind of bragging rights?

If the stated information is correct it costs around $400,000 to institute and probably more to maintain. This is an enormous amount of money for no value to the consumer (taxpayer in this case). Maybe there should be a competing sheriffs department that the taxpayers can choose from.

2- I discovered that the Lexington county government has basically turned over control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department.

The county council is elected by the citizens to operate the county government; this includes the overseeing of the income revenue (taxes), the expenditures (budgets). To put this in a business situation you have the stockholders (taxpayers), who elect the board of directors (the County Council members), who elect/hire the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), etc. in this case many of these positions are actually division of the county government overseen by the Council members.

This gives the stockholders (taxpayers) a control over the business, but without having the ability to direct it’s daily operations. Now the stockholders can, via referendum, direct the board of directors to do certain things (with a majority vote) if they feel it is being neglected by the Board of Directors (Council).

Did the County Council allow the stockholders (taxpayers) to vote on their (Council) relinquishing most of the control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department? If not, why not?

In any business organization the transfer of power is a serious issue, especially when it involves money or the oversight of money. The same is even more important when it comes to the taxpayer’s money! The taxpayers do not have the option of selling off their shares of the stock and getting out of a bad business, they are stuck to keep paying for their “stock” (taxes) every year.

When a branch, department or division is allowed to operate its own budget, as it appears the County Council has done with the sheriffs department, without more direct oversight and control the potential for abuse is enormous (the thoughts of ENRON and World Com should be coming to mind). Obvious places for abuse are in; overtime budgets; employee reimbursements (clothing allowances, trip expenditures, etc.); small item purchases; temporary employees; and part-time employees. But these are just a few of the more abused ones.

In the business world there is another check and balance and it is called “Profit and Loss”. If you do not have a “profit” in one year it impacts your budget negatively for the next year. Since this does not apply to a government entity it is even more critical that the elected council members oversee the budget directly. Although the sheriff is an elected official the checks and balances of a government should be like a well-run business. The County Council should regain control of the sheriffs departments budget and return the balance of power.

How is the stockholder (taxpayer) to deal with a budget if it is mismanaged? Do they vote out the council members who have to raise their taxes, or do they vote out the sheriff? Are they are more likely to vote out the council as they are the ones directly responsible for the oversight of all incomes (taxes), but yet they gave away some of their control over expenditures.

In the case of some budgets it is easy to make it appear sound, especially when you are not required to show a profit versus loss. If you only show what you spend and are not required to produce an income you have it easy. For example most budgets (by most companies) are inflated in a lot of categories by 10 to 25% or more. This allows flexibility when unexpected costs arise. It also allows for the transfer of unspent monies to “pet projects” without the “pet projects” being itemized, making it appear to cost nothing, or the true costs hidden. From the postings I have read, I assume this has happened with Accreditation.

With this practice of over budgeting you can usually turn in “extra” money at the end of the budget year and make it appear you were frugal, when in fact you may not have been. Think of it this way, it is like getting a tax refund, it makes you feel good to get money back from the government, but it was your money to start with, so you have not actually gained anything.

By the way, kudos to the County of Lexington for posting budget information online, although it isn’t in the detail that one needs to really research items, it is a start.

What I have read here, and it is not disputed, that the current sheriff has increased the budget close to 60% during his last term or so, I strongly suspect, from a business perspective, that the lack of financial oversight has lead to a tremendous waste of money. Much like Enron and WorldCom the true extent may not be known until corrective measures are taken.

I would strongly recommend someone with the authority to do so, review the expenditures carefully and give the stockholders (taxpayers) a full report.

[Anonymous]

Awesome perspective and information. I learned a great deal from your post. Thank you for sharing it with the forum.

[Anonymous]

"Business Man", you make several strong points and I would draw your attention to Mr. Harrison's website, www.harrison4sheriff2004.com , since he too has seen the waste you mention. I would be curious to see how many voters actually realize the enormous amount of control that Metts has over his budget and the waste that results from it. How many businesses have seen a 60% increase in their income in the past five years? County Council needs to do their job and reel that back in or we can just get rid of Metts and let Harrison do it! ;-)

[Anonymous]

Well, now I understand why Metts thinks it's his money! I noticed on Harrison's website he wants to give control back to Council, I think he is on the right track. I don't know about the rest of you but we have got to get control of our Goverments spending! :mad:

[Anonymous]

13 MILLION DOLLARS TO 21 MILLION DOLLARS in five years and HE JUST ASKED FOR MORE!!!!!!!!! The time for change is NOW, Mr. Harrison has our vote! :evil:

[Anonymous]

Hmm..... Enron, World Com......

Yeah any budget that has jumped nearly 60% in such a short time without the direct oversite of the council probably does have some alarming things in it!!

Hey Business man you mentioned " employee reimbursements (clothing allowances, trip expenditures, etc.); small item purchases; temporary employees; and part-time employees." as some of the areas where abuse typically takes place.

Maybe we should ask Jimmy Metts to clear the air on these particular topics. I'm sure he would want to show it all..... after all he must have needed that $7 MILLION dollar increase he got in the past few years (!) otherwise he wouldn't have had to ask for more money just to staff the court house.

I'll bet there are some very interesting expenditures in Metts budget... hey councel members are you reading this??

[Anonymous]

Yeah...give control of the budget back over to Council so they can hold it at the same level for 10 years like they did the Fire Service budget. It finally took a firefighter death to get them to remove the constraints they put on the budget back in 1994 because they were scared We The People was going to run them out of office. Sad thing is, it was the equivilent of putting a band aid on a femoral artery wound. Good intentions, but the patient is going to bleed to death anyway.

The Sheriffs budget increasing 60% in his last term is most likely a result of the fact that in previous terms it was under the control of County Council, who is only concerned about getting reelected themselves and wasn't about to raise taxes.

If they approve a slashed budget for law enforcement and crime goes up...it doens't affect them. They just say "You need to talk to the Sherrif. We didn't raise taxes." and they get reelected. That's how they did it with the fire servce. Fire stations were unmanned and failing to respond to calls, trucks were responding with one or two people on them, houses were (and still are since the fire service is woefully understaffed) burning down.....they didn't care. Just keep We The People off their backs and they could care less. Ambulance taking 30 minutes to get to your house? Not their problem....just remember they didn't raise taxes.

We may very well need a new Sheriff in Lexington County, but knowing Larry Harrison he isn't the answer. What we do need is a new County Council...with a two term limit so maybe the second time around they don't have to worry about getting reelected and can actually do their jobs without worry. What we don't need is to continue to run lexington County government at levels more in line to the 1980's here in 2004.

[Anonymous]

I am for term limits for ALL elected positions. Career politicians need to be a thing of the past. :razz:

[Anonymous]

Smokestain brings up a good point. I am surprised that someone has not created a topic about County Council. Those guys do not have a clue. They paid $250,000 for the Pelion Airport. I don't hear anyone going crazy over that. How about the tennis complex on Oak Drive (just a couple of million dollars). They truly only care about getting re-elected and controlling anything and anyone they can.

One reason for the increase in the LCSD budget is the new jail. Yet again, no one mentioned that. The old jail was overcrowded and in need of repairs. Almost all of the municipal police departments used the county jail to house their prisoners. Yet, the county rarely gets reimbursed for it. They do house some federal inmates that they get money for but that doesn't come close to offsetting the cost of running the jail. Richland County will spend almost $14 million next fiscal to run their jail. That is why RCSD gave control of the jail back to the county. It is a black hole for spending.

Don't get me wrong, LCSD could sure get rid of some of the brass over there. They got their problems just like everyone else, embedded people at the top that aren't going anywhere until they are told to.

[Anonymous]

Jimmy must have paid attention during his prestigious grueling intensive three week seminar at Harvard. If you go to his website, and look under events, you will see that on April 20th he will be riding around with a deputy on a campaign sweep of the Gilbert area. Now, it’s bad enough that he has been shaking down his deputies for campaign “walk around money,” but now he is getting into our pockets. He is using a county employee on county time to politically pimp for him. He has a deputy (that he claims we don’t have enough of), who should be doing the job we pay him for, out driving him around in a county vehicle, using county gas, to go around campaigning for votes. Jimmy has absolutely no respect for us or our money. He thinks we are too dumb to catch on and, even if we have caught on, there is nothing we can do about it.

Just hold on there a minute Jimmy………..

He also says on his website that he is going to be at the Piney Grove AME Church on Glenn Road on April 24th to dedicate a sign in the parking lot. I want to invite my fellow Harrison supporters to join me for this festive event. Please bring a sign (homemade will be fine) and join me in chanting “give back the money Jimmy!” I understand there will be media present, so dress nice. I have emailed Harrison and invited him, too. Who knows; if enough of us show up and shout loud enough, maybe Jimmy will grab his dick again.

He also has a golf tournament scheduled for the 26th at the County Club of Lexington (how appropriate for Jimmy!). Plans are in progress. Tick tick tick tick tick tick….. :axe:

[Concerned]

A good friend who recently retired from LCSD told me about this site and encouraged me to visit it to get a few laughs. That is exactly what I got for the first hour or so, but then I started to realize that it was the voice of the same few, over and over again.

I was employed by LCSD for over a decade and was privy to information that the majority of you could only dream of. If I chose, I could use this forum and others to destroy careers (Jimmy "I'm the Sheriff"), (Scottie "I'm so stupid I can't get caught"), (Dwayne "gim me a drink and some cooda"), (Larry "Help me Jimmy, I'm lost"), (Bucky "I don't want to be here"), (John T. "I'm am a police") , (Nandalyn "I think this is my office"), and many, many others. Fortunately, for them, I choose not to.

My questions are several, and I'll reserve most for now , but I'm curious as to why there has been no mention of "most" of the mid and top echelon of LCSD retiring, drawing full retirement from us (the taxpayers) then within a day, being hired back at LCSD and drawing full pay. Granted, the excuse is it's the law (we need to retain the experience of experienced leaders) , "it's cheaper beacuse now the county doesn't have to pay benefits." Hello, somebody is paying their salary, which I might add averages in the neighborhood of $60,000 up per year. How many of you wonder boys out there would qualify Larry Shea as an experienced leader of men. Bucky Phillips never worked when he wasn't retired. Is he making any kind of contribution now?

How would the average citizen like to "retire" then get paid their normal salary plus full retirement. Many of those smart folk taking advantage of this "good ole boy loophole" aren't worth the spit on the back of a rattlesnake.

I could continue, but I'm not Hammertime.

By the way, Hammertime, I've almost figured out who you are. When I finally do, I can assure you that I will tell your "little secrets."

[Anonymous]

Metts has had control of his budget for quit some time. To suggest that he spent the money to play catch up for all the years the council underfunded him is hysterical.

you can see the budget started to skyrocket when Metts decided he wanted Accreditation. It took years of preparation and the hiring of several people to even lay the ground work for Accreditation. then even more people were hired to achieve the final thrust (good choice of words, as that is what he has done to the tax payers) to Accreditation.

Of course along come TJ who was like a kid in a candy store. He was handed the reigns of a big department and a huge budget while Jimmy went to play in the food service business. Spike more expenditures.

It does amaze me that somehow that new courthouse (rather nice looking if I say so myself) just sprung up over night and the deputies needed for security weren't considered years before. Even more amazing is the fact the number of deputies who wear a uniform and answer calls has barely increased, but there are plenty of people wearing a gun and warming a chair (some rather nice desks and chairs too, I might ad)

The post by the business man seems to have nailed it. I am sure that it won't be long and some of the people in the know will start to post hints on where to look in the budget for waste.

this is what the taxpayers look like :butthead: getting ready to take another one so Metts can have his budget.

[Anonymous]

[quote="Concerned"]A good friend who recently retired from LCSD told me about this site and encouraged me to visit it to get a few laughs. That is exactly what I got for the first hour or so, but then I started to realize that it was the voice of the same few, over and over again.

I can't say for sure how many folks are posting here, but I can assure you that plenty of people are reading what is posted. Don't take my word for it, ask around. While you're at it ask about the robot over at LCSD. Why did we get it when SLED already has one that can be anywhere in the county inside half an hour. It is dicussed on the county website. It makes the Pelion deal look tame. Hey, it's only money! Bend over.

[Anonymous]

I am confused about this issue of who controls the budget at the Sheriff's Office. Does County Council have any control over it other than saying they get a certain amount of money and he can spend it ANY way he wants as long as it is "within budget"? (Which hasn't happened!) Is it just me or does there seem to be no checks and balances in this system? If this is true then County Coucil need to do its job and get this fixed, NOW!

[Anonymous]

Do the math. If metts budget has gone up 7 million dollars in a little over one term ($13 million and some change to $21 million) if he is elected ONE MORE TIME he could actually DOUBLE HIS BUDGET IN TWO TERMS!!!!!!! Holy **** I can't afford the taxes for that!

Metts give the money back!!

Good luck Larry we need you!

[Anonymous]

Oh come on now people,
You know that increase in budget was for the citzens of Lexington County. Just look at all the things the S.D. is doing for our children and schools. Dont you just feel safe knowing that the increase in budget put more, better trained, better equiped deputies on the street. :vom:
HAHAHAHA thats a good one...hehehe

[Spud]

I tripped up on the site while researching information for Lexington County on the Internet. I ended up spending the next few hours reading the letters and then became interested in some of the things that were mentioned.

You see, I am a business man and always looking for a better way of doing business and my hobby is studying corporate structures, accounting issues and more. I became interested in the Accreditation that was mentioned and some of the comments that were in the letters I read. This information I present here is strictly my opinion based on what I have researched (again, a hobby and business interest) but found very interesting. I really do not care who wins or looses this election, but as a taxpayer have some concerns that need to be voiced.

Obviously there is some political mudslinging going on. This is an election so it is to be expected. From a business standpoint look at some of the specifics that were mentioned.

1- CALEA Accreditation. I did my research to learn more about it. I found that in the business world it is similar to the ISO 9000 standard. The ISO 9000 standard is awarded to businesses who meet a degree of standardization that can assure the public (consumer) they are a good business to deal with. The ISO 9000 standard like CALEA Accreditation requires that various task are handle in a certain manner, which of course requires the personnel to handle this task. If this is not already being handled by an existing employee, the additional tasks are given to employees or new ones are hired.

In the business world you have competition, so your hope is that a new customer in the market for your product will be swayed by the fact you have the ISO 9000 rating. Now a customer who has dealt with your company before and knows your company is sound in the manner they treat customers could care less about an ISO 9000 rating. So basically it is a form of advertising.

Now the question to be asked is why would a sheriffs department need to have an “ISO” rating or in this case the CALEA Accreditation? Is there a competing sheriffs department that a citizen can call for help so one needs to show they are better than their competition? No, there is not. Is it a form of “I’m better than you” to other police or sheriffs, kind of bragging rights?

If the stated information is correct it costs around $400,000 to institute and probably more to maintain. This is an enormous amount of money for no value to the consumer (taxpayer in this case). Maybe there should be a competing sheriffs department that the taxpayers can choose from.

2- I discovered that the Lexington county government has basically turned over control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department.

The county council is elected by the citizens to operate the county government; this includes the overseeing of the income revenue (taxes), the expenditures (budgets). To put this in a business situation you have the stockholders (taxpayers), who elect the board of directors (the County Council members), who elect/hire the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), etc. in this case many of these positions are actually division of the county government overseen by the Council members.

This gives the stockholders (taxpayers) a control over the business, but without having the ability to direct it’s daily operations. Now the stockholders can, via referendum, direct the board of directors to do certain things (with a majority vote) if they feel it is being neglected by the Board of Directors (Council).

Did the County Council allow the stockholders (taxpayers) to vote on their (Council) relinquishing most of the control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department? If not, why not?

In any business organization the transfer of power is a serious issue, especially when it involves money or the oversight of money. The same is even more important when it comes to the taxpayer’s money! The taxpayers do not have the option of selling off their shares of the stock and getting out of a bad business, they are stuck to keep paying for their “stock” (taxes) every year.

When a branch, department or division is allowed to operate its own budget, as it appears the County Council has done with the sheriffs department, without more direct oversight and control the potential for abuse is enormous (the thoughts of ENRON and World Com should be coming to mind). Obvious places for abuse are in; overtime budgets; employee reimbursements (clothing allowances, trip expenditures, etc.); small item purchases; temporary employees; and part-time employees. But these are just a few of the more abused ones.

In the business world there is another check and balance and it is called “Profit and Loss”. If you do not have a “profit” in one year it impacts your budget negatively for the next year. Since this does not apply to a government entity it is even more critical that the elected council members oversee the budget directly. Although the sheriff is an elected official the checks and balances of a government should be like a well-run business. The County Council should regain control of the sheriffs departments budget and return the balance of power.

How is the stockholder (taxpayer) to deal with a budget if it is mismanaged? Do they vote out the council members who have to raise their taxes, or do they vote out the sheriff? Are they are more likely to vote out the council as they are the ones directly responsible for the oversight of all incomes (taxes), but yet they gave away some of their control over expenditures.

In the case of some budgets it is easy to make it appear sound, especially when you are not required to show a profit versus loss. If you only show what you spend and are not required to produce an income you have it easy. For example most budgets (by most companies) are inflated in a lot of categories by 10 to 25% or more. This allows flexibility when unexpected costs arise. It also allows for the transfer of unspent monies to “pet projects” without the “pet projects” being itemized, making it appear to cost nothing, or the true costs hidden. From the postings I have read, I assume this has happened with Accreditation.

With this practice of over budgeting you can usually turn in “extra” money at the end of the budget year and make it appear you were frugal, when in fact you may not have been. Think of it this way, it is like getting a tax refund, it makes you feel good to get money back from the government, but it was your money to start with, so you have not actually gained anything.

By the way, kudos to the County of Lexington for posting budget information online, although it isn’t in the detail that one needs to really research items, it is a start.

What I have read here, and it is not disputed, that the current sheriff has increased the budget close to 60% during his last term or so, I strongly suspect, from a business perspective, that the lack of financial oversight has lead to a tremendous waste of money. Much like Enron and WorldCom the true extent may not be known until corrective measures are taken.

I would strongly recommend someone with the authority to do so, review the expenditures carefully and give the stockholders (taxpayers) a full report.

A truly erudite work! While I agree that the tax payers should be better advised of expendatures of their taxes, I am amazed at the traffic on these sites regarding the Sheriff's budget! My last property tax bill on my house was $2800; of which was for schools! Now before you get your panty hose in a wad for attacking teachers, I'll ask you if you have ever been a Lexington County school district's head office. If not, you should visit one (Lexington District 1 comes to mind.) You will find that it rivals thebest offices in Columbia and has at least one occupant (probably more) who makes six figures. Neither this edifice nor the occupants thereof teach one class to our children. I, for one, would be much happier if the school tax portion of our property taxes went to the furthering of the education ofourchildren, rather than the building of egos for the school district administrators. Finely, do we really need five districts?!?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you Spud.
District 1 has a beautiful office, nice big building..Real nice
District 2 has a building the size of a small mall and for what???
District 3 is in a old school house. small just right
District 4 is in and old school house, same small just right.
Dont know about District 5 though...
Way to much money on District staff and not enough on teachers and supplies. Teachers dont make near enough money to do there job. but i bet the super makes a hefty amount..

[Anonymous]

Spud you have overlooked the obvious. The school districts elect their board who controls the taxes that go to the schools. Simple solution, vote out the ones who raise your school taxes. The school taxes are seperately controlled, the county council does not have control over the school tax.

The sheriff's budget constitutes about 32-34% of the overall county taxes!!!!!! The sheriff's department is the single largest tax burden on the taxpayers (aside from the school taxes that are seperate).

knowing the waste that goes on at the sheriff's department (Accreditation, special divisions and those trips and training classes) and the fact that the uniformed call answering deputies have not increased in years it is as big of a waste as the school board spending!!!!!

The sheriff's departments budget is bigger than most of the other county services combined!

Easy solution, vote out Jimmy Metts and the current school board and watch your taxes fall!!!

[Spud]

I tripped up on the site while researching information for Lexington County on the Internet. I ended up spending the next few hours reading the letters and then became interested in some of the things that were mentioned.

You see, I am a business man and always looking for a better way of doing business and my hobby is studying corporate structures, accounting issues and more. I became interested in the Accreditation that was mentioned and some of the comments that were in the letters I read. This information I present here is strictly my opinion based on what I have researched (again, a hobby and business interest) but found very interesting. I really do not care who wins or looses this election, but as a taxpayer have some concerns that need to be voiced.

Obviously there is some political mudslinging going on. This is an election so it is to be expected. From a business standpoint look at some of the specifics that were mentioned.

1- CALEA Accreditation. I did my research to learn more about it. I found that in the business world it is similar to the ISO 9000 standard. The ISO 9000 standard is awarded to businesses who meet a degree of standardization that can assure the public (consumer) they are a good business to deal with. The ISO 9000 standard like CALEA Accreditation requires that various task are handle in a certain manner, which of course requires the personnel to handle this task. If this is not already being handled by an existing employee, the additional tasks are given to employees or new ones are hired.

In the business world you have competition, so your hope is that a new customer in the market for your product will be swayed by the fact you have the ISO 9000 rating. Now a customer who has dealt with your company before and knows your company is sound in the manner they treat customers could care less about an ISO 9000 rating. So basically it is a form of advertising.

Now the question to be asked is why would a sheriffs department need to have an “ISO” rating or in this case the CALEA Accreditation? Is there a competing sheriffs department that a citizen can call for help so one needs to show they are better than their competition? No, there is not. Is it a form of “I’m better than you” to other police or sheriffs, kind of bragging rights?

If the stated information is correct it costs around $400,000 to institute and probably more to maintain. This is an enormous amount of money for no value to the consumer (taxpayer in this case). Maybe there should be a competing sheriffs department that the taxpayers can choose from.

2- I discovered that the Lexington county government has basically turned over control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department.

The county council is elected by the citizens to operate the county government; this includes the overseeing of the income revenue (taxes), the expenditures (budgets). To put this in a business situation you have the stockholders (taxpayers), who elect the board of directors (the County Council members), who elect/hire the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), etc. in this case many of these positions are actually division of the county government overseen by the Council members.

This gives the stockholders (taxpayers) a control over the business, but without having the ability to direct it’s daily operations. Now the stockholders can, via referendum, direct the board of directors to do certain things (with a majority vote) if they feel it is being neglected by the Board of Directors (Council).

Did the County Council allow the stockholders (taxpayers) to vote on their (Council) relinquishing most of the control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department? If not, why not?

In any business organization the transfer of power is a serious issue, especially when it involves money or the oversight of money. The same is even more important when it comes to the taxpayer’s money! The taxpayers do not have the option of selling off their shares of the stock and getting out of a bad business, they are stuck to keep paying for their “stock” (taxes) every year.

When a branch, department or division is allowed to operate its own budget, as it appears the County Council has done with the sheriffs department, without more direct oversight and control the potential for abuse is enormous (the thoughts of ENRON and World Com should be coming to mind). Obvious places for abuse are in; overtime budgets; employee reimbursements (clothing allowances, trip expenditures, etc.); small item purchases; temporary employees; and part-time employees. But these are just a few of the more abused ones.

In the business world there is another check and balance and it is called “Profit and Loss”. If you do not have a “profit” in one year it impacts your budget negatively for the next year. Since this does not apply to a government entity it is even more critical that the elected council members oversee the budget directly. Although the sheriff is an elected official the checks and balances of a government should be like a well-run business. The County Council should regain control of the sheriffs departments budget and return the balance of power.

How is the stockholder (taxpayer) to deal with a budget if it is mismanaged? Do they vote out the council members who have to raise their taxes, or do they vote out the sheriff? Are they are more likely to vote out the council as they are the ones directly responsible for the oversight of all incomes (taxes), but yet they gave away some of their control over expenditures.

In the case of some budgets it is easy to make it appear sound, especially when you are not required to show a profit versus loss. If you only show what you spend and are not required to produce an income you have it easy. For example most budgets (by most companies) are inflated in a lot of categories by 10 to 25% or more. This allows flexibility when unexpected costs arise. It also allows for the transfer of unspent monies to “pet projects” without the “pet projects” being itemized, making it appear to cost nothing, or the true costs hidden. From the postings I have read, I assume this has happened with Accreditation.

With this practice of over budgeting you can usually turn in “extra” money at the end of the budget year and make it appear you were frugal, when in fact you may not have been. Think of it this way, it is like getting a tax refund, it makes you feel good to get money back from the government, but it was your money to start with, so you have not actually gained anything.

By the way, kudos to the County of Lexington for posting budget information online, although it isn’t in the detail that one needs to really research items, it is a start.

What I have read here, and it is not disputed, that the current sheriff has increased the budget close to 60% during his last term or so, I strongly suspect, from a business perspective, that the lack of financial oversight has lead to a tremendous waste of money. Much like Enron and WorldCom the true extent may not be known until corrective measures are taken.

I would strongly recommend someone with the authority to do so, review the expenditures carefully and give the stockholders (taxpayers) a full report.

A truly erudite work! While I agree that the tax payers should be better advised of expendatures of their taxes, I am amazed at the traffic on these sites regarding the Sheriff's budget! My last property tax bill on my house was $2800; of which was for schools! Now before you get your panty hose in a wad for attacking teachers, I'll ask you if you have ever been a Lexington County school district's head office. If not, you should visit one (Lexington District 1 comes to mind.) You will find that it rivals thebest offices in Columbia and has at least one occupant (probably more) who makes six figures. Neither this edifice nor the occupants thereof teach one class to our children. I, for one, would be much happier if the school tax portion of our property taxes went to the furthering of the education ofourchildren, rather than the building of egos for the school district administrators. Finely, do we really need five districts?!?

Sory folks. I left out the dollar amount of school tax portion of my property tax bill. It was $1900!

[Spud]

I agree with you Spud.
District 1 has a beautiful office, nice big building..Real nice
District 2 has a building the size of a small mall and for what???
District 3 is in a old school house. small just right
District 4 is in and old school house, same small just right.
Dont know about District 5 though...
Way to much money on District staff and not enough on teachers and supplies. Teachers dont make near enough money to do there job. but i bet the super makes a hefty amount..

It's six figures!

[Spud]

Spud you have overlooked the obvious. The school districts elect their board who controls the taxes that go to the schools. Simple solution, vote out the ones who raise your school taxes. The school taxes are seperately controlled, the county council does not have control over the school tax.

The sheriff's budget constitutes about 32-34% of the overall county taxes!!!!!! The sheriff's department is the single largest tax burden on the taxpayers (aside from the school taxes that are seperate).

knowing the waste that goes on at the sheriff's department (Accreditation, special divisions and those trips and training classes) and the fact that the uniformed call answering deputies have not increased in years it is as big of a waste as the school board spending!!!!!


The sheriff's office is also the largest county employer, except for the Medical Center and its myriad outlying clinics.
The sheriff's departments budget is bigger than most of the other county services combined!

Easy solution, vote out Jimmy Metts and the current school board and watch your taxes fall!!!

[Anonymous]

As "Spud" mentioned the sheriff's department is the counties largest employer next to the hospital and yes it is.

This is a great point! This is exactly why we need a new sheriff, we have a budget that is 34% of the counties tax revenue budget, has increased at a rate of about 60% in a little over one term and how much of an increase have we had in call answering uniformed deputies to show for it?????!!!!!!! (NONE)

They have more rank and fewer working people, Timmy and Jimmy are quick to start a new division or promote people into new positions so they can claim the have all of these great programs but they do not have what the citizens want....... UNIFORMED DEPUTIES TO ANSWER THEIR CALLS PROMPTLY AND DO PREVENTATIVE PATROLS!

It is all about the politics of glitz and glitter to Timmy and Jimmy.

[Anonymous]

From what I understand from friends of mine in the Lexington County Sheriff's Department is that new positions are MADE up and people from outside the sheriff's office are brought in from Cayce to be in charge of those departments. If jimmy and james can not promote from within, because of their people who have been there for YEARS AND YEARS don't have the training, then I think it is time to replace those who are not leading and not giving the people the proper training who been there for YEARS AND YEARS. It is time to get a new sheriff. It is time for new more effective leadership. It is time for a person who is going to be a FULL time sheriff, instead of a part time sheriff and part time teacher (in Charleston). It is time for a change. :mad:

Why are we paying double for high ranking people who retire and then come back in their same positions. According to my friends they were not good examples for leadership before they retired, and they are worse now that they know they can leave at any time. Double dipping is not my idea for good leadership. It is time for a change. :mad:

With all the above, why should anyone want to stay. There is VERY little chance of promotion. Either the inept people stay or they bring in someone from CAYCE. It is time to get rid of the inept leadership and bring in a new sheriff. It is time for a change :mad:



tick tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy has left the building

[Anonymous]

I work for Lexington County but not the Sheriff's Department. OK I see that Harrison is an SRO. well if you look at Sheriff's budget you will see that almost three million dollars has went to put twenty three SROs in high school and middle schools. These were initially grant funded but a couple of years ago the sheriff had to fund them. maybe he should cut all the SROs?

The jail that was built a few years ago is already full (something Sheriff Lott doesn't have to worry about). You know the jail comes out of the sheriff's budget also. It doesnt take a brain surgeon to know that if the jail poulation increases 50% in three years it will take more money to run it. maybe he should let some of the prisoners out?


I'm sure there is much money that is spent unwisely, all I'm saying is you got to look at the budget in detail. and how does the sheriff "have his own budget" if the budget has to be approved by council and they have to approve each time he spends money?

[Anonymous]

"I'm sure there is much money that is spent unwisely, all I'm saying is you got to look at the budget in detail. "

Yes, yes I have looked at the budget in detail. I'll bet in more detail than YOU!

Too bad Jimmy hasn't wanted to debate Larry Harrison so some details could come out for Jimmy Metts to explain!!!!

In time they will surface. But lets just say that there are expenditures that Metts or James do not want out! The post by the business man hit some facts right on the head! Let start asking some questions about expenditures for certain items, or employees, training trips and accounts both county and "others".

As a matter of fact go and ask Metts or James if they mind if some of the budget items get published in an open forum?

[Anonymous]

No No No Cty Employee. Wake up from your dream. We in Chapin or should I say School District #5, PAY 50% of the SROs pay. You can sit there and tell me that 20 SROs 50% cost is $3 million. Are making over $75,000 a year on the 50%. If that were the case, let me quit my job and get one of these positions. We are also told we even paid for a good part of their cars! Where did you come up with that figure. Out of your hat or from the other end of your body? Either School District #5 is lying to us in the board meetings, or you have NO IDEA what you are talking about or you are one of those Good Ole Boys Inc. who think you are MASTERS OF LIES.

As for the jail, does not the city help pay for it. I thought that was the reason jimmy was increasing our taxes a couple of years back.


In case you'll did not read some of the other boards, their is a VRB that ole jimmy is afraid of coming out. Seems that VRB and ole jimmy were looking for property in N.C.. Is there something to VRB? Why is jimmy afraid of VRB coming out to the public? Is this ole jimmy's walls coming down? His lies coming to haunt him? :axe: Only time well tell.


tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy has just left the building

[Spud]

No No No Cty Employee. Wake up from your dream. We in Chapin or should I say School District #5, PAY 50% of the SROs pay. You can sit there and tell me that 20 SROs 50% cost is $3 million. Are making over $75,000 a year on the 50%. If that were the case, let me quit my job and get one of these positions. We are also told we even paid for a good part of their cars! Where did you come up with that figure. Out of your hat or from the other end of your body? Either School District #5 is lying to us in the board meetings, or you have NO IDEA what you are talking about or you are one of those Good Ole Boys Inc. who think you are MASTERS OF LIES.

As for the jail, does not the city help pay for it. I thought that was the reason jimmy was increasing our taxes a couple of years back.


What's a VRB?


In case you'll did not read some of the other boards, their is a VRB that ole jimmy is afraid of coming out. Seems that VRB and ole jimmy were looking for property in N.C.. Is there something to VRB? Why is jimmy afraid of VRB coming out to the public? Is this ole jimmy's walls coming down? His lies coming to haunt him? :axe: Only time well tell.


tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy has just left the building

[Anonymous]

I would be really interested to see what Jimmy has requested the budget for the last 5 years and how much money has gone into those ventures? If he is supposed to be spending this money and it's supposed to allocated for specific projects. I wonder how many actually came to fruition?

Does anyone have any ideas on that one? Is that public record somewhere? I don't mean the doctored up copy of what he wants the public to read. But an acutal request that was submitted for more funding and proof that ALL of the funds were allocated specifically to those ventures.

[Anonymous]

Heck just ask to see how much money was spent on travel for accreditation. It is a lot more than the $4,000. "they" claim is all that is spent on accreditation!!!!!!!!!! <hint, hint, hint> And that is just the tip of the ice berg.

[Anonymous]

Thanks T.J.

You know, the truth is I would love to do that. Yet, Metts doesn't take questions when he does make a very quick and guarded appearance in public.

When I thought there would be an opportunity at a debate between him and Harrison, he NO SHOWED to that too. It seems that if we are looking for Metts to answer these questions its going to have to take place in front of a Judge and Jury. Afterall, we're just avid voters, the bottom of the barrell to the Great Metts.. Why do we need to know what he does with our money? After all, it's just OUR money right?... Just like it's just OUR VOTE!!!

:partyman:

[Anonymous]

From A Business man:


I tripped up on the site while researching information for Lexington County on the Internet. I ended up spending the next few hours reading the letters and then became interested in some of the things that were mentioned.

You see, I am a business man and always looking for a better way of doing business and my hobby is studying corporate structures, accounting issues and more. I became interested in the Accreditation that was mentioned and some of the comments that were in the letters I read. This information I present here is strictly my opinion based on what I have researched (again, a hobby and business interest) but found very interesting. I really do not care who wins or looses this election, but as a taxpayer have some concerns that need to be voiced.

Obviously there is some political mudslinging going on. This is an election so it is to be expected. From a business standpoint look at some of the specifics that were mentioned.

1- CALEA Accreditation. I did my research to learn more about it. I found that in the business world it is similar to the ISO 9000 standard. The ISO 9000 standard is awarded to businesses who meet a degree of standardization that can assure the public (consumer) they are a good business to deal with. The ISO 9000 standard like CALEA Accreditation requires that various task are handle in a certain manner, which of course requires the personnel to handle this task. If this is not already being handled by an existing employee, the additional tasks are given to employees or new ones are hired.

In the business world you have competition, so your hope is that a new customer in the market for your product will be swayed by the fact you have the ISO 9000 rating. Now a customer who has dealt with your company before and knows your company is sound in the manner they treat customers could care less about an ISO 9000 rating. So basically it is a form of advertising.

Now the question to be asked is why would a sheriffs department need to have an “ISO” rating or in this case the CALEA Accreditation? Is there a competing sheriffs department that a citizen can call for help so one needs to show they are better than their competition? No, there is not. Is it a form of “I’m better than you” to other police or sheriffs, kind of bragging rights?

If the stated information is correct it costs around $400,000 to institute and probably more to maintain. This is an enormous amount of money for no value to the consumer (taxpayer in this case). Maybe there should be a competing sheriffs department that the taxpayers can choose from.

2- I discovered that the Lexington county government has basically turned over control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department.

The county council is elected by the citizens to operate the county government; this includes the overseeing of the income revenue (taxes), the expenditures (budgets). To put this in a business situation you have the stockholders (taxpayers), who elect the board of directors (the County Council members), who elect/hire the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), etc. in this case many of these positions are actually division of the county government overseen by the Council members.

This gives the stockholders (taxpayers) a control over the business, but without having the ability to direct it’s daily operations. Now the stockholders can, via referendum, direct the board of directors to do certain things (with a majority vote) if they feel it is being neglected by the Board of Directors (Council).

Did the County Council allow the stockholders (taxpayers) to vote on their (Council) relinquishing most of the control of the sheriffs departments budget to the sheriffs department? If not, why not?

In any business organization the transfer of power is a serious issue, especially when it involves money or the oversight of money. The same is even more important when it comes to the taxpayer’s money! The taxpayers do not have the option of selling off their shares of the stock and getting out of a bad business, they are stuck to keep paying for their “stock” (taxes) every year.

When a branch, department or division is allowed to operate its own budget, as it appears the County Council has done with the sheriffs department, without more direct oversight and control the potential for abuse is enormous (the thoughts of ENRON and World Com should be coming to mind). Obvious places for abuse are in; overtime budgets; employee reimbursements (clothing allowances, trip expenditures, etc.); small item purchases; temporary employees; and part-time employees. But these are just a few of the more abused ones.

In the business world there is another check and balance and it is called “Profit and Loss”. If you do not have a “profit” in one year it impacts your budget negatively for the next year. Since this does not apply to a government entity it is even more critical that the elected council members oversee the budget directly. Although the sheriff is an elected official the checks and balances of a government should be like a well-run business. The County Council should regain control of the sheriffs departments budget and return the balance of power.

How is the stockholder (taxpayer) to deal with a budget if it is mismanaged? Do they vote out the council members who have to raise their taxes, or do they vote out the sheriff? Are they are more likely to vote out the council as they are the ones directly responsible for the oversight of all incomes (taxes), but yet they gave away some of their control over expenditures.

In the case of some budgets it is easy to make it appear sound, especially when you are not required to show a profit versus loss. If you only show what you spend and are not required to produce an income you have it easy. For example most budgets (by most companies) are inflated in a lot of categories by 10 to 25% or more. This allows flexibility when unexpected costs arise. It also allows for the transfer of unspent monies to “pet projects” without the “pet projects” being itemized, making it appear to cost nothing, or the true costs hidden. From the postings I have read, I assume this has happened with Accreditation.

With this practice of over budgeting you can usually turn in “extra” money at the end of the budget year and make it appear you were frugal, when in fact you may not have been. Think of it this way, it is like getting a tax refund, it makes you feel good to get money back from the government, but it was your money to start with, so you have not actually gained anything.

By the way, kudos to the County of Lexington for posting budget information online, although it isn’t in the detail that one needs to really research items, it is a start.

What I have read here, and it is not disputed, that the current sheriff has increased the budget close to 60% during his last term or so, I strongly suspect, from a business perspective, that the lack of financial oversight has lead to a tremendous waste of money. Much like Enron and WorldCom the true extent may not be known until corrective measures are taken.

I would strongly recommend someone with the authority to do so, review the expenditures carefully and give the stockholders (taxpayers) a full report.

[Anonymous]

I see jimmy's supporters stay away from this forum. Why? Is this something the can not be debated?


tick tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy has left the building

[BTK]

I understand that when the new Sheriff's Department budget was presented to the County it was $2 MILLION more than last year! :twisted: Seems as Jimmy was told he better do something about it! :D

[Anonymous]

For anyone who really wants to get serious about researching any departmental county budget:
:arrow: go to the local main library - get as many years of the county budget books as you can handle; and then get the copies of the annual audit report for each budget year.
:arrow: find a comfortable place to sit and several pads/pencils to copy info
:arrow: starting with the current budget, you can see what actual costs were recorded for two prior years, the requested budget, then the actual line item budget passed by council. Each book will take you back another year by line item.
:arrow: in the annual audits you can find what the budget actually was by the end of the year (budget transfers are taken up during council meetings all thru the fiscal year) and how the money actually got spent.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROJECT. THE L/E BUDGETS ARE BROKEN BETWEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT SECTIONS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU WILL SEE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AT ITS BEST AND THERE IS NOTHING EASY ABOUT IT NOR IS IT MANIPULATED TO COVER STUFF UP - BUT YOU WILL NEED TO BE ANAL IN YOUR LINE ITEM ANALYSIS.
:!: the professional accounting work in these documents receive national recognition each year for coverage of complex activity.

[Anonymous]

Nice try guest! But sell that somewhere else we are all stocked up.

Since you "know" so much I'll let you answer these questions:

1.) Who are the part-time employees and how much are they paid?

2.) How much money was spent on travel to, let's say, to the CALEA conferences, and who attended (boy there is a surprise here too, right Jimmy, Timmy and Jakie?)?

3.) How much money has been transferred out of the narcotics siezure fund and for what purpose?

4.) What was the cost of the schools that certain staff officers attended (Let's pick Scott Prill, but there are others)?

I can keep going and going. But "guest" if you are in the know, then you know these answers, and they are not what you would like released right now (after all it is budget approval time for the department and a little thing called an election coming up!).

By the fact I ask them tells you I know the answers (a good attorney never asks a question he doesn't know the answer to). When the time is right I believe they will be made public.

For the rest of you out there in the viewing public don't rush down to the local library you won't find these answers. Jimmy Metts and Timmy James are the masters of hiding things in a budget and moving money around. And for some strange reason part time employees seem to be "hidden", and the cost of certain things seems to get divided among funds or taken from funds that they shouldn't be taken from.

So if you want to do some sabre rattling by claiming there is nothing hidden in the budget you are WRONG!

[Avid Voter]

JT, you are right! I went to the library and couldn't find anything about accreditation costs and I didn't see any where about part time expenses. My County Counsil member and I are fix'n to have a long talk about this! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Metts has made a living out of raising our taxes. I for one, think it is time for a change. Mr. Harrison has walked through our community and talked with us about his plans and goals for the future, something Metts has NEVER done!

[Anonymous]

Seems like Metts can't answer to any of these issues. Something must be up , yeah, my taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

If you really want to know about accretitation then why don't you visit www.calea.org. Thats what I did. The information on this site is so wrong it makes me laugh. Look at the departments that are accredited in South Carolina. You will find that all the progressive larger departments including SLED and DPS are accredited. I should say all the major departments except Richland County Sheriff's Office. I guess he must be smarter than Chief Stewart, Chief Austin, Sheriff Johnny MacBrown (now the US Marshal for South Carolina) and others. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

WHAT :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

[Anonymous]

If you really want to know about accretitation then why don't you visit www.calea.org. Thats what I did. The information on this site is so wrong it makes me laugh. Look at the departments that are accredited in South Carolina. You will find that all the progressive larger departments including SLED and DPS are accredited. I should say all the major departments except Richland County Sheriff's Office. I guess he must be smarter than Chief Stewart, Chief Austin, Sheriff Johnny MacBrown (now the US Marshal for South Carolina) and others. Give me a break.


Hero the argument here is using our money; that would be the taxpayers, more responsible. More deputies are needed, not the accretitation. jimmy is pulling deputies from other needed areas. jimmy is demanding more money to replace old cars. jimmy is demanding for us to pay more for deputies in school, and from what I read in the paper, Batesburg-Leeville and Gaston could not come up with the money, and their school deputies were taken from them. It is a tight budget for everyone in Lexington, and jimmy wants more and more money. This accretitation is a luxury, nothing more. It does nothing for us the citizen of Lexington county. Set procedures should have been and should alway be a standard, not a requirement, that cost thousands and thousands of dollars (some say about $400,000 a year) for some people who live in some other state. I see accretitation as a scam, and people are suckered all the time in scams.



tick tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy and his boys are leaving the building

[Anonymous]

Of all the topics that are posted on this forum, it amazes me that the Metts camp isn't attacking this, UNLESS there is something to hide :?:

[Anonymous]

Curly, my man, I think you are right on target.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the 2004-2005 submitted budget for the sheriff's department is?

I know several of the county councilmen have read this site and are now aware of the waste at the hands of Jimmy Metts and how he hides items in the budget, but was curious if they have told him to cut it.

You would think that Metts would have enough sense to cut it on his own, but his ego would not let him, his mindset is that he is the "G*#da!mn sheriff" and he needs this money.

Then of course if he did cut it it would play into Larry Harrisons hands that he was squandering the taxpayers money before.

Then if he does ask for another increase he will surpass the incredible 60% increase he has had in a little over one term, and that will play into Larry Harrisons hands too.

I guess the jig is up on the budget game Jimmy.

As someone else asked, who are those part time employees again?? And how much were they paid??

[Anonymous]

Can any one tell me who I can call to get my questions about the Sheriff's Department's budget answered. I have copies of the previous budgets and the one off the website but I have tried to locate accreditation costs and part time employee salaries and positions but none of this is addressed, at least not in a manner that I can figure out from these line items. :???:

Where is the figures on money that is taken during drug raids and that sort of stuff? I'd like to see an accounting of this money and its expenditures. Any help appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget Jimmy has Home Land Security money to play with :roll:

[Anonymous]

Okay, someone help me find out who I need to contact to figure out these budget questions. Anyone in the Sheriff's Department know the answers, from the postings someone should know? Why can't anyone answer? I have called everywhere and no one can give me a straight answer about accreditation costs or why these part time employees make what they do or what exactly they are paid to do. Something ain't right here, boys and girls! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Why is it we define accountability to Politicians and they say they "get it" but they never "give it". There must be a way citizens can get an accurate accounting of our tax dollars! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

if you really, really want some answers, why not contact the treasure, or better, go stright to the top, the county administrator. both, better have an answer for every question that has been asked. you see if they cannot give the taxpayer an ansewer them they are not doing their job... ok boys, i know that you read this... what is the answer. as i have said before, i'm waiting, waiting. :axe:

[SoyYo]

I work for Lexington County but not the Sheriff's Department. OK I see that Harrison is an SRO. well if you look at Sheriff's budget you will see that almost three million dollars has went to put twenty three SROs in high school and middle schools. These were initially grant funded but a couple of years ago the sheriff had to fund them. maybe he should cut all the SROs?
........>

.......................................all I'm saying is you got to look at the budget in detail. and how does the sheriff "have his own budget" if the budget has to be approved by council and they have to approve each time he spends money?

:shock: I watched the Sheriff load up the County Council assembly room at the time another Grant had expired thus needed funding [translation of course is needed Council to raise taxes]. It was a magnificient job that had many Commisioners squirming in their seats. PLEASE NOTE (a) the tax increase was a little bit of nothing to support the nationally acclaimed domestic violence program and (b) they squirmed even more when addressing Jeff Chavez issues which was pitiful to see.

My observation is County Council is put in a spot where they have little or no choice so they may as well abdicate responsibility for Metts budget. At least that way he should take the heat (not). I can easily see the pro's and con's of his approach. The pro's are observable with messages from those in our Fire Services and the tragedy of Jeff Chavez.

Concerning County Council control of the budget I provide another example to ponder. The new crime chemical analysis labratory for narcotics and other evidence will be another budget bump on the horizon. One of the brass advised me Metts stole away the head of SLED's lab to run his new labratory. I doubt that maneuver was for less pay. Salary and benifits for that lady and however many other scientist types will need funding in a year or so not to mention run of the mill supplies. Funny, the Dope cops told the class they were not having any problems getting dope analysis in time for court about the time the new Grant was announced. {I wonder if the Council was queried pre-grant?}

My gripe of course is there is no Grant money for "old time policing" needs and staffing for that "proactive patrol" aka: preventative patrol out doing beat cop work of talking to people. The Sheriff's "customers" aka: crime victims who do not fit within one of the nice [big city] new program areas therefore get the short end of the stick.
SoyYo

[Anonymous]

SoyYo, I don't know where Cty Employee got this 3 million from or the 23 SROs from. There are only 21 at one time, now there is 19. The school districts pay 50% of the SRO pay, and there is no way that comes out to 3 million. 2 schools could not come up with their 50% and they lost their SROs. As I said earlier, 60% jump in money, and no more road duputies to show for it. If Metts' people want to say it went to the schools, they better come up a better story then that. Waste and misuse would be more like it. It'll be up to Harrison to find out and show us where the money went. :evil:

[Anonymous]

For GOP fan: The only way you will get "details" on the budget request is by sending in a FOI (Freedom of Information) request to the County Administrator - in writing. He will, of course, pass it on to the Sheriff's dept to respond to. You won't find any particular program cost shown in one line item......the cost will be spread across salaries, fringes, supplies, phones, equipment, training, etc., along with alot of other stuff. And no one will discuss any details on a particular employee, so don't even bother........that's not within the public info law. It will take some time to get all the different types of project cost together.
I looked at the budget request on the Lex Cty web site www.lex-co.com. Altho there should be explanations behind every line item amount, I didn't find alot of explanation on the Sheriff's dept line item request (starts on page 701 of 1528). I did look at all the positions listed for each dept which includes P/T, but didn't see any obvious "retirees". That too would have to be a POI. Hope this helps.
The program income from narcotics funds shows up in the revenue section of a spread sheet on Special Revenue Funds on Page 896.

[Anonymous]

Guest, thank you so much for the information and I have contacted an Attorney friend to help me draft that FOI paper. I did speak to some people over at the different offices you mentioned and they weren't really sure what all I could get but were friendly. I realize you might not be able to get an employee's name but what about how much was paid each part time employee?

[Anonymous]

Hey GOP Fan, while you are checking things out ask them how come there is only ONE Administrative Assistant in the budget but Metts has TWO, YES TWO, count them, assistants??????

Or does his assistant have an assistant?????

While you are at it ask them about the administrative assistant that Timmy James has!

Two people and three assistance........ now tell me there isn't WASTE at the sheriff's department.

I have more questions when you get the paperwork ready.

[Anonymous]

I can't help but notice when there are pointed questions or statements about the sheriff's departments budget this board suddenly gets new topics that are silly. This is not the first time it has happened, remember the posting about "I like" ?

I guess some topics are being posted that scare the life out of Metts and James and they have their loyal staff members (you too John A.) try and divert the attention from the true concerns at hand.

That little ditty that was posted sounds a lot like former sheriff Metts song writing capabilities from the "I want to be the G*d da#n Govorner" days.

Too bad it mentions some affairs, considering Metts has his own skeleton that is no longer in the closet. How is your realtor Jimmy? Find the little "piece" of property you were looking for?

Now back to the serious questions:

1.) Who are those part time employee's and how much to they make?

2.) Why does Metts have TWO Assistants?

3.) Why does Timmy James have an Assistant?

4.) How is this possible when the budget show only ONE(!) Administrative Assitant slot for the entire department?

For those who may not have understood how the Accredidation costs are hidden, I hope you can see how they do it now. They have hidden TWO employees right there in plain sight, anyone who enters the administrative wing see's them and the entire department knows about it.

Let's have some answers!

[Anonymous]

Now either they are the Master Minds behind the Department and carrying the heavy load.. .OR, we need to apply for those jobs because we know theres no REAL WORK coming from Metts office unless they are going to be handing out BBQ at Jimmys pig picking pocket snatch...

I agree, the smoke screens constantly try to take away from the real subjects. But, no one really wants to discuss REAL SUBJECTS that works and supports Metts. Of course that has been our gripes all along hasn't it?

Metts and his staff not wanting to step up and the few that actually do give a damn and work their ass off; they just get pushed to the side and over worked.

Notice that no one has ever answered ANY of the REAL POSTS out here. Their only response is satire because they have NO REAL ANSWERS!!

[Anonymous]

Can any one tell me what the Sheriff's Department is asking for this year? I am just wondering if there is an increase besides employees' raises? Also, I have noticed a large number of Sheriff cars at their County shop, are these being replaced, fixed or up for sale?

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding that the budget was going to be around $2 million more but County Council told Metts to re-do it! It appears he is in a jam now because of this election, he still wants more but knows everyone will attack him on it! :D

[Anonymous]

I agree, it amazes me that he continues to believe in excess when we have such bad economic times! We need change in 2004!

[Anonymous]

Guest from Gilbert....County sale is sometime in June. Cars are most likely for the sale.

[Anonymous]

I am still waiting for someone to come forward and tell us who those part time employee’s are and how much money they made and what did they do?

I hear that little Timmy James had the county drop close to $10,000. on him going to school. WOW!!! Now that is a waste of money if ever I saw it.

Scott Prill, the faithful Boy Wonder, at least to Timmy, spent almost as much going to his school! I guess they are resume` building for when the inevitable happens.

There is so much waste in the sheriff’s department budget that it is incredible.

I want answers!!

[Anonymous]

Please, explain how you justify such expenses with our economy the way it is :?: Was this approved by County Council :?: What did we as citizens benefit from these schools :?: Sounds to me some folks need to pay back some resume building schools to the County! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

what schools, where, when?

[Anonymous]

Hahhhhhhhhhhhhhhvurd. Cambidge, Massachusetts. The chowder is divine and it is virtually impossible to fail.

[Anonymous]

GREAT, I can't afford to send my son but I can pay to have the Sheriff's Chief Deputy sent to Harvard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! County Council had better know about this and fix it or they can find another job! :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Anonymous]

County Council does not know about this expenditure, money was siphoned from "special" accounts to pay for the school and other expenses. The same thing was done with Prill. Council would have to look very close at some of those accoutns in order to find them but it can be and should be done.

[Anonymous]

Y'all are getting silly. Advanced training is something that all large departments send there top management to. It teaches them executive level management (have all the candidates had such training?). Probably not. I dont' work for Lexington or Richland but I can tell you that Tim did go to Harvard but only after being recommended by Sheriff Lott who had just returned. Yes, Sheriff Lott. It was in the newspaper and the classes are designed specifically for government officials and law enforcement.

It is common practice in any organization, government or otherwise. And it is almost always paid for by seized drug funds which is a legal use of the funds for law enforcement under federal guidelines. NO COST TO TAXPAYERS. You can FOI it from the Richland or Lexington County office to find out.

Not only have James and Prill went to advanced school but so have other managers. Like I said, it is common and benefits the citizens because they bring back informantion valuable to operations and management. A small price to pay when you consider the job that MOST of the managers do and the hours they put in. If some of them were actually paid for the hours they put in the Countys would be broke. Prill and others work hard there. It is wrong to attack all the managers there. And please don't attack Harvard to.

[Anonymous]

"Was an Insider", what you say maybe true except for one very important fact, Sheriff Lott did not use tax dollars, he received a scholarship (also in the paper! You failed to mention that!). However,you still miss the point, mismanagement or inefficient use of tax dollars! :evil:

[Anonymous]

So in essence what your saying is that even though you are not technically "qualified or credentialed" that once you are in certain positions within the Sheriffs Department that you will be "schooled and properly trained" for those positions?

Just curious. I always wondered how Metts had time for all that extra education he has been obtaining over the last 30 years. Because I know he didn't walk into the office with it. I don't think people realize that. They have a fixation on his PhD, when in actuality, he didn't obtain that PhD prior to being Sheriff did he?

[Anonymous]

Very valid question? Where are all the quick responses and answers? :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Where are all the Metts people in the know. Why is it so difficult to get a REAL ISSUE ANSWERED FROM THEM... If we are voting people, we need to vote informed. I have three post on here and no replies that are actually factual or founded. ANYONE????


From a previous post:
So in essence what your saying is that even though you are not technically "qualified or credentialed" that once you are in certain positions within the Sheriffs Department that you will be "schooled and properly trained" for those positions?

Just curious. I always wondered how Metts had time for all that extra education he has been obtaining over the last 30 years. Because I know he didn't walk into the office with it. I don't think people realize that. They have a fixation on his PhD, when in actuality, he didn't obtain that PhD prior to being Sheriff did he?

[Reality]

Your asking educated and legitimate questions about LCSD. Don't expect any REAL answers from Metts or his boys. Theres only excuses. Not real facts.

Just why we need a change.

[Anonymous]

I really hate that possibly our votes will be split between Brazealle and Harrison. I'd love to see Jimmy take a hike.

[Anonymous]

I think Brazelle is going to win this personally.

But to answer your question (and not being one of Jimmy's boys), I would ask you a question.

Do you think running the sheriff's department is the same today as it was in 1972 when Jimmy took office? I am sure you would say the answer is no. Don't fault training and education in management. The field of law enforcment, technology and management changes every day and continuing education is not only important but necessary.

The real issues in this campaign are not wasting tax dollars on education, maybe if we did more of it things wouldn't be bad in all of government. I would hope when Jimmy B becomes Sheriff he will continue educating supervisors and management. It is a neverending process.

[Anonymous]

Some of you should call Lexington County Council or the Lexington County Finance Office and find out the truth. Yesterday the sheriff's department was the only department to submit a balanced budget without asking for more money. Meanwhile at the same budget meeting Larry Harrison's wife and Tom Comerford asked for eleven more people. If you think I'm not telling the truth, call the office and find out. This website is lie after lie. If you are a responsible voter, find out the truth for yourself and don't rely on theses people who just want to get Jimmy Metts, Larry, or Jimmy B. elected.

[Anonymous]

I believe this race is really just between Jimmy and Harrison. (No offense Brazelle Supporters). :roll:

I don't for a minute believe that Harrison would stop education. I believe that education is key. You must continue your education constantly and that requires an open mind, allowing for productivity and growth. This is very instrumental in Law Enforcement, where techonology changes and advances everyday. For example, in 1972 we didn't have the knowledge or resources to profile, complete accurrate foresnics etc.. Today, because of education, and technological advancement we are able to solve 20 and some times 30 year old crimes (aka Cold Cases). No, I have never seen the show. :!:

:idea: My point is simple. What some individuals feel Harrison may lack in his qualifications was easily obtainable by Metts during his tenure in office and will be just as accessible and useful to Harrison.

The major difference is that Harrison would gain the knowledge to enhance his position as Sheriff, to assist in running the facility at the maximum and fullest potential. Whereas Metts used his in order to self-promote and try and gain a better position in Government, politics and whatever else venture he has chosen over the years that would grant him escape from being our Sheriff.

There is a lot of negativity surrounding this site, even though I am certain the intentions were to allow voters to gain information in order to elect the best candidate into office. If we could focus on the fact that we are now 12 days away from tallying votes and address some of the more LEGITIMATE issues brought forth on this forum, we will all stand a better chance of casting a good vote.

My vote leans more towards Harrison because out of all of this, I have yet to hear him mud sling. Especially about the other opponents. I have also noted he sticks straight to the facts and his platform has not waivered since inception. He is easily accessible and no question appears to be "wrong" or a "waste of his time". I have received those very comments each time I try to approach the Sheriffs Department personnel or Metts regarding this election.

I realize that Metts biggest mistake was ever electing James into his Department and unfortunately that has allowed for the majority of the dissatisfied citizens and voters as well as the poor morale and attitudes of his Deputy. If you take a look through this site and read what some of his own deputies wrote it makes you wonder how they can possibly focus on their jobs with all this other stress and turmoil happening. To that end, you must ask yourself why Metts hasn't put a stop to T. James and his tirades? Why promote him and try and place him out of harms way? What has James done that makes him a "hands off" employee status?

When Metts lost interest in his job as Sheriff, he released the glue that held the structure and foundation of the Department together. He no longer has the respect and/or discipline to be Sheriff. His heart is not in his work anymore and the negativity has snowballed into the infrastructure of the department and has caused a chaotic and stressful work enviornment for the majority of the employees who work for him.

James record had nothing notable on it prior to joining the Sheriffs department and todate there are no markable changes. He contines to remain more of a "token employee" than an employee worthy of the promotions and titles he has been extended.

In addition, whether anyone includling Brazelle would like to look at the big picture. The control that was given to Metts over the budget is a breach of integrity. What's good for the goose should be good for the gander right? Yet, have they released the purse on any other entity? Allowed for the type of increases he has made with little to show for the funds he used?

The budget plays a large part into our property taxes. It is a hot topic in this campaign because we as citizens and voters of Lexington County pay these taxes as well as the increases and/or penalities when it negates it.

We are constantly looking for ways to reduce or property taxes, and a person to speak for us and help us reduce our property taxes. Each election year, we all strive to find the candidate who will provide us with the best tax relief and services. To date, we have really failed with that in Lexington County because our taxes continue to grow and not reduce.

Here we are at yet another election year. This year, we have learned why some of our taxes have increased. The budget at the Sheriffs Department does impact our taxes.

We have the power to assist in reducing this debt/budget by voting for someone with the mindset to save money, and utilize current resources in a cost efficient and pro-active manner. That I for one think voting for someone who is looking for ways to save the citizens money, provide us with more service (i.e., patrolman) and making our county a more informed county is the way to go.

For those of you who continue to try and beat down the positive topics on here, you need to take stock in your own cupboard. A figure head is not your priority. Your family and Jobs are your priorities. Stop trying to fight change and get geared to acclimate to it. Progress is inevitable and you should be gearing yourselves up to that fact now!

Harrison is the vote for 2004! A much needed solution for a much needed problem!..

[Anonymous]

I don't think there has been any mud slinging by Jimmy. Has there? The Sheriff has always taken campaigns seriously and there is no exception with Harrison.

This is the second time I have viewed this forum and it is pretty interesting I must say. I work for Lexington County but not for the sheriff's department but I do have an inside track to the overall county finance.

I stated the truth earlier when I said that the sheriff submitted a balanced budget when all the other departments requested more money. For those that do not understand, the sheriff's department has their own tax rate. If you look at your tax bill you will see a line item called law enforcement. The sheriff does not (and can not) take money from other departments and the sheriff does not raise your taxes, they are raised by county council.

While the school districts raise your taxes every year, County Counicl has raised your taxes only two times in fifteen years (I was here both times).

It is true that the Sheriff's budget has increased significantly over the past ten years but you have to remember that so has the county's population and the need for services. If the population increases 60%, it may be necessary to build a bigger jail, add more deputies, etc. We are having the same problem countywide with fire stations, EMS trucks, and solid waste collection stations.

The Sheriff has always managed within his budget and has never overspent his budget. You must remember that when a new jail is needed or when he must take over grant funding for School Resource Officers, etc. he will have to go before Council to get more money.

The Sheriff has the freedom to spend funds in his budget but he doesn't really "have his own budget". All department heads (including the sheriff) must give finance and county council a budget to be approved, then every time he spends a penny, it has to be approved by the County.

Other departments are not as well managed. I will say that the other departments don't always have the resources to hire people to help manage it.

What I don't understand as a County employee is why people don't ask for the information. The budget is on the county's website. They publish all expenditures, including the Sheriff. The public hearing for the budget was held this past Tuesday. It was advertised, yet for the first time since I have been employed here, no one showed up to speak against the budget. I would think that if Brazelle or Harrison had any concerns about how the Sheriff spent money, they would show up and voice them in front of the public and the media. Both candidates were a no show.

All I am saying is if you have a question about something, don't ask it on here. Go to County Council or County Finance and fill out a Freedom of Information request. Get the REAL answers. I am sure the County Attorney will make sure your request is filled, since it is the LAW.

The people on here speculate about what the perceive the truth is....not what it ACTUALLY is.

I don't really know Harrison. He is probably a good man BUT he has not shown me the MANAGEMENT experience of what it takes to run a 29 million dollar government office. When the Sheriff took office a high school diploma might work, the department only had eight people. Now between all of public safety, there are over 1,000 people and millions of dollars. Being a good cop is great, but until someone comes along who has the MANAGEMENT credentials. I am sticking with Jimmy - you should too.

[Anonymous]

BIG DEAL, WOW, SHAZAM OVER THE YEARS I'VE HAD SEVERAL PHD'S. EVERY TIME I NEED MINE SOMEBODY HAS SNATCHED IT UP AND I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER POST HOLE DIGGER-----DAMMMMNNNNN!

[Anonymous]

Lex-Co Finance, I'm no finance wiz, but here are some of my problems with your argument.

Yes the county population and class for service has grown over the past 4 yrs, and yes Metts has gotten a 60% increase for it. Where did the increase go? :shock: We have the same number of deputies on the road today, sometime fewer, as we did 4 yrs ago. The calls for service went up, but the number of people handling them stayed the same :shock: .

Metts has 2 secretaries and James has 1. Are the secretaries handling some of these calls? How musch do they cost? Metts is using COUNTY gas, a COUNTY car, and sometimes a COUNTY employee to drive to Charleston. How much does that cost? :evil:

Metts is using COUNTY gas, COUNTY cars, and COUNTY employees to put up his signs and to drive him to meet with people, while pitching for his re-election. How much does that cost? Metts has this accrediation feather in his cap, which does not do squat for the citizens for Lexington county. How much does that cost? :evil:

Metts has all these people working up in the sheriff office for him, Intel, Accrediation, Extra-Duty coordinator, Lab, Communtiy Service coordinator, a lot of BRASS, and god knows what or who else. How much does that cost? There has been a lot of MADE-UP positions in the last 4 years for administration desk jockeys, but NONE for the road. The problem here is the WRONG priorities. Who should be going to schools to learn about new ways of doing law enforcement, the senior staff or the road deputies out there actually doing the law enforcement? :twisted:

We have seen post over and over again of misuse and mismanagement and it is odd that no one can disprove any of them that have been brought up. We see where Metts' number of crime stats are not totally true. I wish there was a way for someone to look at the areas in which were taken in 2002 and compared them to the same areas of 2003. For example take all reports for Swansea, the annexed areas, ect ect. and combined them to Metts' stats for 2003. Then we can really tell if the crime stats went down. :twisted:

If you did not see mud slinging by Metts' camp in these website, I would strongly advise you to either learn how to read, or get a pair of glasses. Metts' camp does nothing but mud slinging. Reread the post with an open mind you should be able to spot the Metts supporters. Lies are all in their posts. :twisted:

If Harrison wins, then he can bring in a neutral person in and go over the books, then and only then can we find where the money went. :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it amazing!!!!!???? The first time since Jimmy Metts has been sheriff he has NOT asked for a budget increase.

Now why is that? Simple, for the first time since he has been sheriff he has competition, Larry Harrison, who is knowledgeable in law enforcement has uncovered the enormous waste of the taxpayers money by Metts’s regime.

To show you how much of a waste it has been consider this; The sheriff’s department uses an enormous amount of gasoline in it’s cars, gas prices are up by almost half as much as it was last year at this time. YET, they did not have to increase this years budget to compensate for this?

Now suddenly with Harrison ahead in the polls and the election just a little over a week away Metts regime manages to submit a budget without an increase in it for the first time EVER! Does this tell you how much FAT and waste Jimmy Metts has built in his budget!!!????

Typical of Jimmy Metts, he assumes that if he doesn’t increase his budget for the first time in 30 YEARS that the voters will forget the fact he has had a 60% increase in just a little over one term!

Sorry Jimmy, too little, too late.

Larry Harrison has uncovered your wasteful spending and your lack of understanding of the needs of the citizens. The citizens are tired of you and after June the 8th you will “no longer serve” at the voters pleasure.

Larry Harrison, thank you for giving us a choice!!

[Anonymous]

Hey Lex-Co Finance since you seem to know so much, answer these questions:

1.) Who is the part time employee who makes $80,000. a year? For some reason I can’t find that online or in the paperwork.

2.) How come in ONE calendar year over $20,000. was spent going to CALEA conferences? Who is that dispatcher that went also that doesn’t work for the sheriff’s department, and who is she related to?

I have some more questions, but I’ll give them to you slowly so you have time to formulate your answer.

Remember, a good attorney never asks a question he doesn’t know the answer to.

I’m waiting.

[Anonymous]

Hey Lex-Co Finance since you seem to know so much, answer these questions:

1.) Who is the part time employee who makes $80,000. a year? For some reason I can’t find that online or in the paperwork.

2.) How come in ONE calendar year over $20,000. was spent going to CALEA conferences? Who is that dispatcher that went also that doesn’t work for the sheriff’s department, and who is she related to?

I have some more questions, but I’ll give them to you slowly so you have time to formulate your answer.

Remember, a good attorney never asks a question he doesn’t know the answer to.

I’m waiting.




WHAT !!!!!!!!!. O.K folks, someone HAS to explain these. Lex.Co Finance can you enlighten?



tick tick tick tick :toimonst: jimmy is going to be leaving the building

[Anonymous]

If you really want facts, listen up.

This is my first time posting on here. I have viewed it a couple of times before for amusement. I love the earlier posting after the "Lex-co Finance" one. This guy doesn't like this or that, he says the Sheriff has mismanaged his budget, wasted resources, etc. He hates accreditation (I doubt he knows much about it - hell he can't even spell it).

I have a pretty good inside track to the Sheriff's Department from the outside but close enough to know the truth.

The Sheriff has actually submitted a balanced budget for the past three years. Four years ago was when the Sheriff asked for more money in his budget to fund the School Resource Officers that were going off grant. THAT IS THE TRUTH. You can check with the County Finance Office.

As far as fiscal mismanagement, each year ALL of the books are audited by an external auditor (one hired by the county to look at ALL accounts and expenditures by elected and appointed department heads). This annual report is available to the public. I suggest you get one. Each year the Sheriff's Department passes with flying colors (other departments are not so lucky).

Again, get your facts straight.


To answer the two questions above:

1. There is not a part-time employee making 80,000. That is rediculous. If you have proof, spill it. I would be interested in knowing your source. If people on here would back up their accusations, voters might not speculate as to their motive.

2. There was not $20,000 spent on CALEA conferences. There was a CALEA sponsored conference that some people were sent to (It was also sponsored by the National Communications Officer's Association). The classes taught at that conference pertained to constructing consolidated communications centers and formulating public safety policies for centers that dispatch fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical service.

There was not a "dispatcher" sent. The County sent the Communications Supervisor of the Central Communications Center and the Supervisor of the Sheriff's Department Communications Center. The training was done in preparation for the merger of the two centers. The merger was a HUGE project that involved many different vendors and personnel. The training was necessary due to the importance of possible interruption of 911 service in Lexington County. Whatever the training cost (probably more like 2,000 than 20,000), the training was well worth the taxpayers money. The two communications centers were merged without interruption of operations and the merger has saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars in previously duplicated services and equipment.

By the way, the supervisor of the former central communications center is Nikki Knotts Rodgers (Jake Knotts daughter). She has supervised that center for many years and is a professional. It is wrong for you or anyone else to bring the family of a candidate into this. You should be embarrassed.

Next question. :!:

[Anonymous]

Great answer. Wrong question. Being so close to county finance, you mean to say that there are county agencies that submit UNBALANCED budgets to council. No one disputes that the budgets are balanced, it is those pesky little massive increases that have us wondering where our money is going.

Since you seem to know, why don't you just TELL US what part-time positions are at the Sheriff's department. Cut and past if you wish.

Since you seem to know, how much money was spent on accreditation conferences by the Sheriff? You are the first person to claim they have any idea of the amount of money that has been spent on that boondoggle.
Oh wait, you seem to be guessing on that one. From what we are hearing, that money might not have been as well spent as you would like for us to believe.

By the way, when it seems like every member of a candidates family is employed by the county, it is going to be an issue whether you like it or not. I am not the least bit embarrassed by Jake's nepotism, but maybe he should be.

Since you have a ringside seat on finances at the Sheriff's Department, maybe you can tell us how much the Crotch Doctor was able to shake out of his deputies.

By the way, every time somebody writes "this is my first time on the forum...."; it ain't.

[Reality]

Lex-co I hate to sound like a broken record. But, if what you are saying is ALL TRUE.. Then why is it that we DO NOT HAVE an increase in our Police Force?

If he is doing such a great job at getting grants and managing this money. Where are all the quality deputies and programs for our County?

If he were going to make such wonderful improvements by utilizing the funds then why don't we really see them being utilized efficiently.

There is more to this than the average citizen can see. As for the comment on Harrisons wife and Comerford requesting more employees. I fail to see the relevancy considering that Comerford is the Clerk of Court and Harrisons wife IS NOT!! I don't believe Harrison has anything to do with the Clerk of Courts office either. Correct me if I am wrong!! :?:

[Anonymous]

Which county agency did not pass their audit?

[Anonymous]

"The Truth", I would love to have some of that! Why is it that this is the first year in what, 30, that the Sheriff has not DEMANDED a budget increase? Oh and lets drop that spin on "balance budget", that's just BS and we all know it! With the price of gas doubling in the last year, why didn't he have to ask for more money for that? I would guess it is because he has been FORCED to reduce the "fluff" that he has built into his budget! But hey, I am willing to listen, give us some of that "insider info" that you claim to have! :evil:

[Anonymous]

There isn't any big secret why Jimbo isn't sweating his budget this year. He knows he is not going to be around to answer up for it at the end of the year. The man knows he is out of here and could care less. Somebody better the check the trunk of his car when he drives off in January though. No telling what he will try to drive off with.

[Anonymous]

"The Truth", we are waiting! :roll:

[Anonymous]

Such a response. Do y'all stay on this web page day and night?

Let me start by clarifying an answer I made earlier. Someone got on here and said that the Sheriff was paying a part-time employee $80,000. I (like an informed citizen) went and researched this claim (although I knew it was false). You can research it also.

If you go to the county's website, the budget is posted. Go to www.lex-co.com and click on "Recommended Budget". If you look in the table of contents, you will see a listing for law enforcement. When I went to the law enforcement budget, you will notice in the administrative budget there is a line for "part time" and then recommended something like 80,000.

Without giving a finance and accounting lesson here that will bore you to tears, if you notice there is a "5" next to the line and then 2.5 FTEs. What this means (in English) is that this is a part-time pool of people. In this particular case it is a pool of 5 retired law enforcement officers that can be hired as instructors in the training division. The positions may not all be filled at one time and can never reach the cost of more than 80,000 in a given year (or 2.5 full time equivalents <FTEs>) . Many other departments do the same thing. It is a great way to use the experience of retired officers and it is a benefit to taxpayers because the County does not have to pay fringes and benefits. The department has utilized former police chiefs, retired investigators, retired FBI agents, and even a retired Assistant Sheriff. Ask the officers what a benefit it is to have someone on the range at any time to help with shooting problems or how it is to have an FBI fingerprint classification expert available to them, etc.

The same research method can be used to answer your questions about accreditation. In the administrative budget, there is a line item called Accreditation Services. It is something like 4,500. Not $40,000, 400,000, or 4,000,000. Please if someone has proof that the cost is so much more, lets see it. If you want to find out more about the accreditation and "who" is accredited, then go to www.calea.org.
There are many, many departments in South Carolina that use this system. Maybe it is the "Accreditation Mafia" -- (just kidding).


The 4,500 is the annual fee paid for accreditation. Thats it. The fee covers a team of independent assessors that come in every three years to conduct an audit of administration and operations. They give the Sheriff a very detailed report of recommendations for any improvements. The fee covers their plane fares, hotel costs, meals, etc. A small price to pay for an independent audit. County, State and Federal Government do this all the time. Ask around.

Next question: Why did the Sheriff not have to ask for money due to the increase in gas prices?

Good question - here is THE TRUTH. The County as a whole saw the problems in the middle east. Remember 9-11. Governments all over the country began to set up gas contingency accounts in their budgets. The Sheriff and other managers did the same thing. For the last couple of years this money has been saved for this purpose, but if you remember, gas prices did not initially go up as anticipated. Thus the money was saved and is available today when the county needs it. This is a perfect example of good fiscal management.

And by the way, Lexington County as a whole operates on a very conservative budget, there is little or no fluff. If there is, the budget is available to you and if there was somewhere that should have been cut, I would think someone should have showed up to the public budget hearing and pointed it out. Of course there wasn't. Why?

I am sure any unbiased voters on here want THE TRUTH. I am here to give you proof of where you can look up facts and be informed. If you have nothing to support your claims on here.... you should not give them.

tick....tick....tick....tick....NEXT QUESTION :!: :!: :!:

[Anonymous]

Nice try "The Truth". I am not sure who you are in the Metts campaign but your spinning of the lies does not make it the truth.

If you know there are no hidden items in the budget then NAME the part time employees for the past few years. You steer the readers to the web site with the budget information (of course you also steered them to the “Recommended Budget” not to budgets in the past) on it because you KNOW that information is buried there, and they can't find it. Since I know this answer it is obvious I did not get it from the online budget information, but through research at the county level. The only people at the sheriff's department who know it are probably Jimmy and Timmy, the same ones who HIDE everything else in the budget.

The ONLY thing listed online is the total spent for part time employees, not how much they made or what they did. So name them. Those 5 retired officers, except for one (EW), you mentioned do not do any work, but draw a check. Nice way to pay those who help you with your campaign isn't it. And with the taxpayers money too.

As for Accreditation not costing but a few thousand dollars, again, nice try.
TWO trips were taken in ONE calendar year. One to Seattle the other to Colorado Springs. The total for these two trips is around $20,000. not counting salaries and other expenses. According to your lies you only spend around $4,000 on Accreditation, so how can you spend $20,000. in one calendar year on CALEA Accreditation trips, but only spend $4,000. on Accreditation in a year? This sounds like the Enron Executives way of doing math. Nice try on your lies, again.

Other than Timmy James is the loyal servant of Jakie Knotts, why did the sheriff's department foot the bill for Knotts daughter to go to the conference? What a complete waste of the taxpayer’s money! Of course it also shows Jakie Knotts influence on the sheriff's department!

Lets talk about monies being moved from other funds to pay for CALEA costs. This way it doesn't show as an expense for CALEA Accreditation (Thanks "A Business man", you were right on the money with your suggestions). Let's start with the $4,000. from certain funds that were covertly transferred from other funds so they couldn't be detected.

Whoever you are in the Metts campaign, don't worry you only have about a week left to try and spin the budget issues into something that sounds plausible.

[Anonymous]

"The Truth", nice try on the spin there, but once again no dice! You write as if you are Timmy James, so let me ask you once more.......Why has it taken 30 years for no increase in the budget?

[Anonymous]

Why would Jake's daughter go to a Law Enforcement conference when she doesn't (1) work at the Sheriff's Dept. and (2) is not a Law Enforcement Officer? Oh, and how many more attended these conferences?

[Anonymous]

Because the real "team" Metts has is the "Jimmy, Jake & Timmy Team". Good Ol Boys scratching their backs!

[Anonymous]

So many responses, and so hostile.

These postings continue to amuse me. You state that I am "spinning" my statements when most of you make claims and accusations on here that have no basis in fact.

Talk of Mafias, covert money transferring, and people sleeping with other people's wives: sounds more like a Hollywood movie. Someone should contact Hollywood. Well, back here in Lexington County governement, things are not as exciting as people who post on here believe in their minds.

First, someone questioned why Jake Knotts daughter went on a CALEA conference. Well, I believe someone earlier answered this question. She is the supervisor of the Communications Center at the Administration Building. The Sheriff's Department (which now includes Fire, EMS, and Communications) sent the Communications Center supervisors from both centers before the two were merged earlier this year. Look back on the postings and you will find a more detailed explanation. The CALEA conference was co-sponsored by the National Association of Public Safety Communications. The training that the personnel received was invaluable to the merging of the centers. It did not cost 20,000 (I guess it is like the cost of Accreditation -- you just add a few zeros for effect). County Council has stated that the merger has and will save tens of thousands of dollars on previously duplicated services and equipment. If you know anything about 911 Service, you know that when you use to dial 911 the dispatcher answered "Fire, Police, or Medical". Then the dispatcher transferred the call to the appropriate communications center. NOW, when you dial 911, the dispatcher answers "what is your emergency". No more transfers and each dispatcher is cross-trained to handle fire, law enforcement, and Emergency Medical Dispatch. Sounds like and efficient use of taxpayers dollars. Yes money was spent to send people to training, but more money was saved when they applied their knowledge to improve services and save taxpayers money.

Second, someone wrote a remark about nepotism. There are many sisters and brothers, fathers and daughters, and even husbands and wives working in Lexington County government. There are only two in the Knotts family that work for Lexington County and both are professional employees that do not get involved in politics. If nepotism is such a problem, I would assume that Harrison's wife would resign if he became Sheriff. They both use to work for Lexington County. Of course, I wouldn't expect her to, since this is nonsense.

THAT IS THE TRUTH.


tick.....tick.....tick....tick.... (I must have some kind of medical condition with all these ticks)


NEXT QUESTION :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

[Anonymous]

I have come to the conclusion that “The Truth” is definitely someone in the Metts campaign, probably Timmy James, Prill or even Rod.

At this point you cannot let the truth out, you slipped and confirmed that Jakie Knotts daughter went on a trip paid for my the sheriff’s department. This obviously was not favorable to Jakie since he has been trying to live down the fact he uses his influence to help his friends and relatives. Now you try to justify it even more.

You will never admit the truth, you can’t.

The facts are:

Two CALEA Accreditation trips were made in the same calendar year. They were divided into two separate budget years so it wouldn’t draw attention.

On the trip to Colorado Springs the bill, not counting salaries, was over $8,000. On the trip to Seattle the total came to over $10,000. Not too far off from the $20,000. That was first mentioned. Now add in salaries and you are over the $20,000. mark you deny.

You can’t send 5 and 6 people flying across the country for a week long conference and paying the $390. CALEA fees and the daily per diem, airfare, hotel expenses, etc. and expect it to be only a few thousand dollars. And as for the “saving of money” by increasing their knowledge! Most of the people who went on the trips had nothing to do with Accreditation (like MG), it was a reward.

And yes, there has been money transferred from other funds. Lets talk about the narcotics forfeiture fund.

This is why Jimmy Metts would NOT debate Larry Harrison, this information is out there and Jimmy knows it and can’t answer for it. It also explains why he has had a 60% budget increase in a little over one term, he has had to pay for the Accreditation from somewhere. Jimmy and Timmy are the masters of hiding and moving money.

Face it you have been caught in your lies, again.

[Anonymous]

MG LBJ EW CIA FBI

Dude, what are you saying. If there is a misuse of money, why dont you call the media. They are always interested in corruption. If there was, why don't you speak at County Council or at the Legislature and uncover this secret you have.

To me it sounds like you are FULL OF SH$T.

Like most of the people.

[Anonymous]

I think what most people are trying to point out is that no one at LCSD is being honest about how much Accreditation costs.

First -- The initial costs and annual fees
Second -- Major Scott Prill (who was hired to get the department Accreditation) he makes over $50,000
Third -- Sgt. Barbara McMullen (who was hired to keep the department to CALEA standards and policies) she makes over $35,000
Fourth -- Those dang CALEA Conferences that the department "must" attend and of course the department cannot send one person -- try 6 to Seattle, WA
Fifth -- The numerous administrative positions created to keep with CALEA standards. The department can say that they are needed positions but the pitch to get them initially was we have to have them because of Accreditation.

I really don't think the media much cares about how much Accreditation cost but the voters do!!!!! :razz:

[Anonymous]

The postings in this area have been informative. some of them anyway. I am a supervisor on the road and obviously people here are not informed about anything.

First of all Mcmullen is the Sergeant over Evidence. That is easily a full tie job. I think she also keeps the accredidation files. The evidence system is better than it has ever been.

I dont know anything about Seattle but my Captain told me that most of the training at these conferences is not about accredidation. He brought back stuff on Homeland Security and told me about the presentation given by the incident commander on 9-11.


Prill is over administration not accredidation. If you walk through the hall at the sheriffs department, take a look at the chart on the wall. I don't think anyone would want his job since he is like there everyday and he has nothing to do with accredidation. He probably has no life. I wouldn't do his job.

I think WIS would be interested in the costs of accredidation. I really don't know how much it really cost but I am curious myself. I have been at the department for nine years and I can tell you that before accredidation people got promoted based on "who they knew" and there was no testing. I think people on here should look around at other departments. Why is everyone coming to LCSD? Most of the people that have left the department were in some kind of trouble. Read the paper yesterday (front page) and you will see why they come here.

I dont really care about accredidation I care about my equipment, my car, my pay, and how my supervisors treat me. All of that is going good. There are problems at every department. I have worked at three in my career and believe me the grass aint greener.

[Anonymous]

It looks like rain. I am going to be brief so I can do some grilling before the storms roll in.

I wasn't going to say anything, but since it has been brought up again, I will.

I am not a cop and cannot argue the pros and cons of accreditation but I can offer THE TRUTH.

Many people on here have their mind made up on who is going to get their vote for Sheriff.

For those of you who have not, be skeptical of the information on these pages and search for THE TRUTH on your own.

Regarding the CALEA conferences, the conference held this year has already been discussed (the one concerning the Communications Merger). It was in Colorado (and cost somewhere around $5,000 total). That is not a bad price for three people, hotel, airfare, and conference registration.

The conference is Seattle I had not heard about or at least I had not seen any paperwork. So, I decided to conduct my own "investigation". I went to the CALEA website at www.calea.org and searched for conferences. I found an upcoming one but not any previous ones. By the way, if you look at the agenda for classes you will find that most of the classes are not about accreditation but are about other aspects of law enforcement management and criminal investigation.

Without having access to prior conferences, I decided to call their office (the number is on the website). Hell, I'll give it to you (1-800-368-3757). When I called I asked them about a Seattle conference. They informed me that there was none. Hmmmm.

Of course don't take my word for it. I always offer ways for you to verify. Since today is a holiday, call the phone number tomorrow and ask them. They will give you the same answer.

But, maybe CALEA is also part of the CAYCE MAFIA, conducting covert money transfers and covering up sex scandals. Maybe the six employees actually said they were going to Seattle but really went to Egypt to explore the pyramids. Or, maybe they went to the American Idol finale in Hollywood. Or, maybe they just spent the day down at Shealys in B&L. I love Shealys --- Yummy. Speaking of BBQ, let me go do my grilling.

Again, check out the proof yourself... and you will find out THE TRUTH.

NEXT QUESTION :!: :!: :!: :!:

[Anonymous]

THE TRUTH, you sound like you are very much "in the know', so let me ask you this............WHY is it that it has taken Metts/Sheriff's Dept. 30 years to finally not have an increase in there budget?

[Anonymous]

The questions about the Sheriff’s budget won’t go away. They won’t go away because there are just too many inconsistencies. I have been on this board almost from the beginning. As I recall, the first thing the Crotch Doctor (aka Just A Deputy) said about the budget was that he “gave back” hundreds of thousands of dollars that he didn’t use. Council was “all a twitter” and one Councilman even jumped up in the middle of one of the Council meetings and sang his praises. A period of time passed and someone pointed out that the Sheriff’s budget has undergone massive increases over the past several years. The citation of “60%” rings a bell. Then questions started popping up about part time employees and junkets to CALEA meetings and discussion groups at Harvard. Now, all of a sudden, much is being made about the Sheriff submitting a “balanced” budget containing no increases. You don’t have to be some kind of shrewd financial wizard to see through all this malarkey. People started asking questions about the budget and the CYA meter at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department went to DEFCOM 5.

Which story are we to believe? The Crotch Doctor is betting that you’ll buy which ever answer you like and not ask any more questions. You’re not smart enough to understand this kind of high finance anyway. It can not all be the truth.

What about Accreditation? As I understand it, being accredited is all about having policies and procedures in place to insure a minimum standard for management practices. If nothing else, the Crotch Doctor ought to be thrown out of office for the disastrous boondoggle that Accreditation has become. No one would argue that the goals of accreditation are not desirable. However, look at the dog’s breakfast that the process has become at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office. We know that the LCSO has a certificate hanging in the lobby and a policies and procedures manual. What we don’t know is how much it costs us to get them. Apparently, ANYTHING can be justified in the name of accreditation. Exactly what does the presence of a supervisor at the communications center have to do with the accreditation of the Sheriff’s Office? From the explanations I have heard about this, a member of County Council should have been on that plane to Colorado as well. Let’s not forget the Solicitor’s Office, the Clerk of Courts Office, and a representative from the county garage. As THE TRUTH pointed out, according to the CALEA meeting agenda, most of the meetings didn’t have anything to do with accreditation. You might want to pause for a moment, weigh this, and move on. We could have paid to send the Lexington High School basketball team out to Colorado and gotten as much for our money.

And what of those major improvements that accreditation has made possible at the Sheriff’s Office. One person observed “promotions used to be made based on who you knew; now you take a test.” It took accreditation for the notion of promotion based on merit to take root at the Sheriff’s Office. What the hell were they doing for 30 years? The justifications for accreditation simply point up how second rate the leadership at the Sheriff’s Office has been all along. The inability to account for the costs associated with accreditation points up how financially cavalier those who use accreditation to justify their existence truly are. Remember, accreditation was supposed to assure MINIMUM standards. The minimum is coming in at a maximum cost.

[Reality]

Well stated DVM. It appears that a lot of people think that taking ones word such as Metts is supposed to be enough of an answer. After all he is the "Go$ Da&$ Sheriff of Lexington County". Who are we to question him about how he spends the money we pay in or justify the means? It constantly amazes me how completely naieve some people are when it comes to voting.

When asked a legit question with substance, we receive idiotic parrables with no real fact or response.

Then when you finally receive a half decent response, it never truly addresses the issue or question, it throws out decoy facts to try and prevent real voters from seeing the truth.

Metts is a poor adminstrator and manager. (ie., TJames fiasco and poor HR management if any is available to the employees).
Metts overspent on the budget and misuses the budget dollars.
Metts cost US money everytime he gets re-elected.
Metts has nothing to show for this accreditation and budget increase.
Metts has allowed his own employees to become complacent in adminstrative jobs instead of being "real deputies" and doing what they were hired for.
Metts has to much adminstrative "fluff" in his department and not enough deputies on our streets.
Metts has been in office for 30 years, he does have a chance for the longest record of Sheriff in SC. But, in those thirty years, normal technological growth and production aside. What the hell has he done in this position to benefit the VOTING CITIZENS of Lexington County?

Answer those and cast your vote. He doesn't deserve our vote, he hasn't worked for our vote and doesn't even show up to public forums to address our concerns or allow our questions.

Harrison is a better choice for the Sheriff Department and a BETTER CHOICE ALL AROUND when it comes to this election.

Vote for a change June8th and get rid of the dead weight in the department (namely Metts and his motley crew).. Bye, Bye.. Timmy!!! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Well, I see that people begin to call people names when confronted with THE TRUTH. I have no been viewing these pages as long as everyone else has on here but I have went back and reviewed some of them.

The difference between me and most of you is that I offer facts PLUS sources to where you can verify yourself. I don't get on here and say things with no basis.

I offer you this challenge:

1. Call the County Finance Office or County Council and ask if Sheriff Metts has EVER overspent his budget. The answer will be NO.

2. Ask them if the Sheriff turns in money at the end of every fiscal year. The answe will be YES. Please remember that just because you turn in money, does not necessarily you mean you have too much. When you operate a multi-million dollar business of any kind you try to have money for contingency in case of unanticipated emergencies (ie. gas increases or maybe a natural disaster such as the tornadoes that swept through our town years ago, although most of you are proably too young to remember).

3. Also, remember that County Council approves the budget every year and the Sheriff is audited by an outside auditor with the rest of County government. Audit reports can be obtained by any citizen. I also must again ask the question "If there was a probelm with the Sheriff's spending, why did no one speak at the public budget hearing? Why not last year or the year before?"

4. Finally, this is the last time I am going to talk about accreditation. The bottom line is this: If CALEA offered only minimum standards, then why aren't all agencies fulfilling them? Can other sheriff''s departments not meet MINIMUM standards? And if accreditation is so bad, why did Chief Robert Stuart get SLED accredited? Why did Chief Charles Austin get Columbia accredited? Why did Sheriff Johnny MacBrown (now appointed as US Marshal by President Bush) get Greeneville County Sheriff's Office accredited? How about Spartanburg City and Sheriff's Office? How about City of Charleston and Charleston Sheriff's Office? I could go on and on but we would be here all day. Check out www.calea.org for the full list.

I guess what I am saying is: Are all of these Chiefs and Sheriffs wrong -- but we are to believe that Larry Harrison is right? Does Larry Harrison know more than SLED, DPS, Lexington, Spartanburg, Charleston and ALL the others? But then again Larry has no management experience and probably does not know the value of an accreditation. You see county funds support Lexington Medical Center and they are accredited, the University of South Carolina receives state funds and they are accredited. All of these standards are NOT minimum because if they were, all agencies would have to participate. A voter could go to the website and see the value.

I went to the website and learned something. Accreditation from CALEA is a NON-PROFIT organization formed from the Police Executive Research Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriff's Association. They are the people that run the program (I guess they don't know what they are talking about either).

Again, don't take my word for it, go to the website.

As a citizen, I can look at the budget myself online and see that not a lot of money is spent on accreditation. There has been NO PROOF otherwise.

As a citizen, I take pride in my county law enforcement, not only because they are accredited, but because they are professional in everything they do.

It is ironic that only because of professionalism and standards, that Larry Harrision is no longer employed by the department.

Don't vote only for Sheriff Metts on June 8th, vote for the team. The whole department that works every day for the citizens of Lexington County. The posts on this site only prove that Larry is not ready to manage such a huge department.

Don't take my word for anything. My TRUTHS can be verified.

CHECK THEM OUT AND YOU WILL VOTE FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.

[Anonymous]

I am pleased to accept your challenge.

1. If you build enough fat into your budget, you need never over spend.

2. “Just because you turn in money does not necessarily mean that you have too much” That is the single stupidest statement I have read on this entire web site.

3. We thought the County Council was paying attention. They were not. The auditor is not going to address over-budgeting. They just look for people stealing money. They could care less how much the Sheriff needs, gets or doesn’t get.

4. I am glad that you learned that CALEA is a non-profit organization. Now go find out how much the officers and directors are paid. The description “non-profit” is misleading. Any way you cut it, CALEA is a business and it exist to make money. All those people from PERF and IACP aren’t working for nothing.

You keep insisting that SLED, DPS, Greenville, ect, ect, have been accredited so that means that accreditation is a good thing. I wholeheartedly agree that standards are essential for any professional organization. I have no doubt that this was in the minds of the Chiefs and Sheriffs who have opted to pursue accreditation. However, the distinction between SLED, DPS, Greenville, et. al.and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office is that those agencies did not see fit to financially rape the living snot out of the people who ultimately had to pay the bills that accreditation generated. How many CALEA conferences have those other agencies attended? Which one of them has invited individuals from other agencies or departments to “come along” as their guests? I’ll bet Robert Stewart can tell you to the exact penny how much has been spent to accredit SLED. At the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office CALEA is just a name used to justify whatever whim hits the administration that can’t be paid for any other way. That’s why nobody can tell you how much it really costs. Nobody knows because it changes day to day.

You will note that Chief of SLED, Director of DPS, and U.S. Marshall are all jobs that Jimmy the Crotch aspired to. His outright rejection for each of these positions should be interpreted as an indication of how his management skills have been appraised by more capable executives. Jimmy the Crotch’s grueling three week seminars not withstanding. He has failed, and failed dismally, to manage the accreditation process as professionally and economically as others have. This alone is justification to turn him out of office.

I am positive that those other agencies have done a magnificent job implementing the standards that CALEA accreditation demands. However, you can not smear enough lipstick on the CALEA pig at LCSD to make it attractive. A pig that is devouring our tax dollars at an ever increasing rate. The people responsible for the CALEA boondoggle at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office need to be shown the door at the first available opportunity. That will be June 8th.

Finally, Jimmy the Crotch fired Larry Harrison. Jimmy the Crotch never cited nor noted a CALEA policy or standard to underpin his decision. He fired Harrison because he was the G&*d#$M Sheriff of the G&*d#$M county. It is time for him to go and in six days he will go. Our deputies deserve better leadership and we deserve a better Sheriff.

[Anonymous]

I almost forgot:

tick....tick.....tick....tick...

Another day closer.

[Anonymous]

DVM - I am wondering if THE TRUTH is in the office next to me. I'll ask him June 9th.

Do you actually think that when you do a budget that you know EXACTLY how much you are going to spend? If you think turning in money at the end of the budget year is a bad thing, perhaps you think overspending your budget is a good thing. You do not spend your budget to the penny. I feel like I am teaching a third grade math class. Maybe I am.

Take baby steps. Maybe you should open that lemonade stand. That might teach you a little more about budgeting, contingency accounts, investment in training to recoup larger savings, and personnel authorizations. After the lemonade business, we could move on to something a little more challenging like maybe SNO CONES.

By the way, why was Larry fired? Was he framed by the MAFIA and a Columbian Drug Cartel during a covert money transfer. Probably not since all terminations go through the County Personnel Office and are reviewed by an outside indepenndent Labor Attorney.

DMV, your true colors have been shown. When confronted with facts, you resort to unsubstantiated B.S.

By the way, you should get that "tick" checked out at an accredited medical facility.

And, you spell "Marshall" with one "L" (Marshal).

Good day. And I think the voters will make the decision to keep a proven professional in office. One that recognizes higher standards for law enforcement. We can talk again on June 9th - I hope you won't disappear.

[Anonymous]

I will stand by my statement. “Just because you turn in money does not necessarily mean that you have too much,” is the stupidest thing I have ever read on this web site.

Let’s talk about budgeting, contingency accounts, and personnel authorizations. Surely, with a firm grasp of these essential financial principles no one could ever wake up one morning, find a new courthouse in their county, and discover that they are short about a dozen deputies. Heavens! That could never happen. Certainly, with this well oiled financial machine in place, it should be a snap to figure out how much accreditation has cost Lexington County. Thanks to the financial acumen of the LCSD, we will probably never know how much has been blown on unnecessary travel, irrelevant conferences, unessential positions, or “guest” tickets. The other accredited agencies have somehow managed to achieve their goal efficiently and economically. You have to hand it to the Crotch Doctor, in the midst of these debacles he was handing several hundred thousand dollars back to the county. Compared to the financial management of other government agencies, LCSD looks like a monkey screwing a football.

The LCSD has taken, what would otherwise be a laudable effort, and made a total mess out of it. Perhaps if the process had been properly managed by the Jimmy the Crotch, who was otherwise occupied with his teaching and merit badge collecting activities, things would have be different. However, he saw fit to hand off his responsibilities to a subordinate and pursue other endeavors. The inability to manage is why Jimmy the Crotch was never appointed Chief of SLED, Director of DPS, or United States Marshal (with one “l”). The difference between these executives and Jimmy the Crotch is that they are actually capable and interested in performing their jobs. You can bet the people who occupy these offices have never corralled their employees and demanded money for any reason. You can also bet that not one of them has ever grabbed their private parts and made a lewd gesture in mixed company.

Jimmy the Crotch is a failure as an executive and a failure as a Sheriff. Why I wouldn’t hire him to run my lemonade stand. Come to think of it, Jimmy the Crotch did go “ass over tit” in the food service industry, didn’t he? Budgeting becomes a little more complicated, and unforgiving, when you actually have to earn the money; a concept with which he is totally unacquainted. Perhaps you can offer your financial advice to Jimmy the Crotch. He could benefit from your ability to clarify the budgeting process.

The only thing Jimmy the Crotch has proved is that, because of his evident poor judgment and disinterest, he is not fit to hold the office of Sheriff.

Please don’t worry about me being around on the 9th. That’s only a week away and I think I have budgeted well enough to stay around til then. Time is passing; tick…..tick…..tick…..tick. As the Crotch Doctor will soon learn, time and tide wait for no man. He really shouldn’t have listened to old Rod. Hiding from the public is a stupid strategy. Too late now; tick…tick….tick…tick.

[Anonymous]

DVM, just a dumb question but how do you know that Sheriff Metts is not the Chief of SLED because he can't manage? Do you have some inside track in the Governor's Office?

I see that you have changed your story. First everyone on here was saying accreditation was a waste of money. Now, after everyone on here has seen who is (and who is not) accredited, you say that "The LCSD has taken, what would otherwise be a laudable effort, and made a total mess out of it". How have they made a mess out of it? Why your change is position with regard to accrediation? Did you finally relaize that it is a noble effort?

What unessential positions? There is no one in the job of "accrediation". I looked.

All accusations and no proof to back it up.

I WAS a Larry supporter but I think I'm voting for Metts or maybe Brazelle. If the people on here represent who he is going to put in positions over there, I aint voting for him.

Since most of the people on here are Harrison supporters, I hope this website wasn't a creation of the Harrison campaign. I have a feeling it is going to backfire on him.

DVM, you and many others on here continue to make accusations without substance in an attempt to mudsling and smear people.

My father and his father have enjoyed a quality of life in Lexington County that has a lot to do with having great law enforcment and a great Sheriff. We have always voted for Sheriff Metts and kept him in office all these years. To make all these accusations is saying that all of the citizens in Lexington have been dumb redneck idiots for the past thirty years. Let me tell you that we are not. We know who we vote for.

I am glad he isn't the Chief of SLED or the Director of DPS. We like him right here... where he belongs... in Lexington County.

(Did your watch stop??)

[Anonymous]

You are right. It is a dumb question.

I'm delighted that you and your father and grandfather are so fond of living in the same county as our crotch grabbing Sheriff. You'll love living Charleston after the first of the year.

Times are changing and time is moving on...tick....tick....tick....tick....

[Anonymous]

Jimmy Metts ain't the Chief of SLED or the U.S. Marshal because Strom Thurmond detested him. With things looking the way they are for Beasley, I wouldn't count on any appointments for Jimmy in the near future (if you know what I mean). Just thought I would throw that out.

[Anonymous]

Well, time is getting by. Only five days until the primary. Has anybody seen Jimmy? Somebody ought to call that school in Charleston and tell him to get back up here.

[Anonymous]

Metts may be out of sight, but he did remember to write. I got a big ol' post card from him today! He ain't giving away barbecue this time. I guess even Metts had to break down and face the fact that there ain't no free barbecue.

Wait a minute! Metts says he is responsible for crime going down, but the card I got from Charlie Condon says that he was responsible for crime going down seven years in a row! Charlie and Jimbo need to sit down (they are both in Charleston anyway) and decide who can rightfully take credit. Anyway, it sort of looks like Charlie got to the well first.

Another example of why you can't believe a darn thing the cops say. Just think about it.

[Anonymous]

Four days. Tick...tick....tick.....tick

[Anonymous]

What kind of executive management experience does Harrison or Brazelle have? ANSWER: NONE.

Did anyone check out the State News Editorial Page today (Saturday)? It seems that after interviewing the three candidates, looking at their accomplishments, and their shortcomings, the editorial board and The State Newspaper endorsed Sheriff Metts. Check it out for yourself.

I believe the title is:

"METTS BEST GOP CHOICE TO SERVE AS LEXINGTON SHERIFF".

tick...tick...tock

[Anonymous]

Being endorsed by The State Paper is..


THE KISS OF DEATH



Too bad for Jimmy. When you read the article it is actually negative on Metts and seems to be promoting Larry Harrison.

See you at the polls on Tuesday!

[Anonymous]

It was supportive of Harrison?

Have you been spending time with the Crack Ho s on Two Notch?

GO GO METTS!![b]