Hamilton County sheriff Jim HammondWHY IT MATTERSHamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond is asking for a $1.85 million budget increase for next year. And he confirmed Friday that he probably will have to ask commissioners for extra money this year because, for the second year in a row, he’ll spend more than his budget.
It pays to be a friend of Jim.
Or relative. Or campaign donor. Or neighbor.
“Friends of Jim” is the unofficial name for a group of part-time Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office employees who have ties to Sheriff Jim Hammond and are paid off the books.
Since Hammond took office in September 2008, he has hired a number of part-time employees who don’t appear in the budgets he submits annually to the Hamilton County Commission. When a commissioner asked him Monday how many part-time employees the office has, Hammond said 30.