Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond wants boost in next year’s budget

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond speaks to the media in this file photo.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond told other county officials his office would need an additional $2.56 million in the coming year “just to keep our heads above water.”

Hammond said the funding would increase his $27 million budget by about 8 percent. He said he needs nine deputies, nine detectives and 15 corrections officers, among other things.

However, county commissioners and County Mayor Jim Coppinger said after a Thursday lunch meeting with the sheriff that it’s too early to know what the budget will allow. Last year the county laid off workers and cut about $13 million from the overall budget.

“I think it’s premature to be having any budget discussions,” Coppinger said. “Eventually we’ll see where we are.”

Commissioner Tim Boyd said the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is likely to be tight again.

“It’s going to be a tough year for budgets,” Boyd said. “What the commission is concerned about is the reduced tax income coming in. Every time there’s a piece of commercial property switching hands, it’s switching hands at a lower value than is on the books.”

Hammond said law enforcement has been affected uniquely by the economic downturn and the increased demand created by urbanization of rural areas.

“Law enforcement has had some pretty tough times the past few years,” Hammond said. “What I’m presenting to you today is really a dire picture.”

The department has a backlog of about 18,000 warrants, with about 1,000 to 1,200 new warrants coming in each month, according to Capt. Bill Johnson.

Many of those require officers to bring people back to Chattanooga from distant areas by car or plane, Hammond said.

About 25 percent of the department’s autos have racked up at least 125,000 miles, Hammond said.

“The accidents and breakdowns are almost a daily occurrence,” he said.

The department also is bracing for a potential uptick in gang monitoring and enforcement in the next few years.

“We’re trying to monitor it to see if they’re trying to move into the unincorporated areas,” Johnson said. “We find people out in Soddy-Daisy, Hixson and Middle Valley. We don’t know why they’re in those areas.”

Commissioner Joe Graham asked Hammond what he’s doing to reduce costs.

The sheriff said he’s leaning more heavily on reserve officers and volunteers.

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