Burke County sheriff aims to take legal action against board — again

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Thursday, we’re learning more about threats of a lawsuit from Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams over his budget.

This has been a years-long battle we’ve continued to follow since 2021.

Recently, the Burke County Board of Commissioners responded to the sheriff’s threats, saying his office is properly funded.

We’re breaking down what the sheriff’s demanding, and the background of how we got to this point.

The more than three years Burke County battle between the sheriff and commissioners is entering a new but familiar stage.

It’s all detailed in a two-page letter sent from Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams to county commissioners.

READ THE LETTER:

His letter is a demand to county commissioners to provide an attorney for his office to file a civil suit against them. The sheriff is asking for this to be paid out of the county’s general fund and not his budget.

The sheriff writes he believes the county is refusing to adequately fund the sheriff’s office to pay for deputies, and they failed to comply with its statutory duty to pay for inmate medical care for one inmate who needed 24-hour medical care.

The Burke County Board of Commissioners responded to the sheriff’s threats, saying his office is properly funded.

According to county documents, commissioners say that single inmate increased nursing care costs by more than $346,000. The county says they gave $313,000 back to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff also says the county has sought to limit his ability to retain, hire, and train deputies and has interfered with day-to-day operations, which the sheriff says is illegal under Georgia law.

County documents highlight the sheriff’s budget is nearly $13 million, which has increased every year since he took office in 2017.

County documents also show the sheriff has been over budget almost every year since 2018.

Commissioners responded to the sheriff with their own letter, saying the sheriff’s office had received more than enough funding. The board is highly disappointed the sheriff intends to spend taxpayer money on litigation.

At last week’s commission meeting, commissioners sounded off on the current budget issues with the sheriff’s office.

“He has gotten an increased budget every year and all we ask him to do is stay within the budget that he’s got. We don’t tell him who to hire, we don’t tell him what to pay, we don’t tell him to hire three or four people and pay them the price you could get six deputies for. That’s not our job. It’s not our job to micromanage him or tell him what to do. It’s our job to give him a budget and it’s his job to figure out who he wants to pay, how much he wants to pay,” said Commissioner Evan Martin.

“Our job is to give him a budget and it’s his job to stay in it. He’s gotten an increased budget every year since he’s been in there,” said Martin.

MORE ON THE INVESTIGATION:

• Federal lawsuit filed against Burke County Sheriff’s Office
• Are Burke County sheriff and his ers above the law?
• ATF raids business of man linked to Burke County sheriff
• Burke County sheriff’s ongoing problems
• More on a case that vanished under Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams’ watch
• 2nd Burke County DUI case never makes it to court
• Burke County audit finds big problems with sheriff’s spending

The sheriff says he’s left with no choice but to file a civil suit against the county to advocate for his office.

The sheriff is requesting the county vote to allow the sheriff to retain counsel, which would cost taxpayers $400 per hour, plus other expenses.

This wouldn’t be the first time the sheriff sued Burke County commissioners.

In Nov. 2021, the sheriff filed this mandamus action to gain control over his budget.

SEE THE LAWSUIT:

The judge ruled in favor of the county saying they’re the fiscal agent. The sheriff appealed the decision and lost again.

That lawsuit cost you, the taxpayers, more than $150,000.

A special-called meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. to discuss Williams’ request to hire legal counsel for a suit against the county.

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