Burke County sheriff asks Gov. Kemp to help resolve funding issues

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has sent a letter to Governor Brian Kemp, asking for help in resolving funding issues with the county commission.

A media release from the sheriff’s office states that the Burke County Board of Commissioners recently voted to table funding for inmate housing costs and declined to allocate school speed camera funds toward the purchase of body cameras for detention officers.

It also claims that these decisions have raised serious concerns regarding public safety and the operation of essential services within the sheriff’s office.

Now, the sheriff’s office says that in response to the board’s actions, Williams has sent an “Urgent appeal to Governor Brian Kemp, seeking his assistance in resolving these funding issues.”

The Burke County Board of Commissioners responded to the sheriff’s letter saying “we welcome Governor Kemp’s review.”

“The Board of Commissioners has received a copy of Sheriff Williams letter to Governor Kemp and we welcome his review of the County’s funding for the Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. We believe that anyone can plainly see that Burke County has a well-funded Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. We would welcome the Governor and Attorney General to look into the operations of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.”

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

In January, the sheriff sent a letter to county commissioners asking that they provide an attorney for his office to file a civil suit against them.

The sheriff is asked for this to be paid out of the county’s general fund and not his budget

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

Later that month, commissioners follow through with suing the county.

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