Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett answers questions during a news conference in this file photo.After outgoing Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett asked half of his patrol staff to volunteer to lose their jobs so he could stay within budget, he now has decided to do nothing.
Everett, who was defeated in a runoff election, was told to rein in his spending after he was projected to go over his $2.6 million budget this year by more than $300,000. His first reaction was to announce that 16 employees would be laid off, and a memo to that effect – asking people to step up to be let go – was posted Sept. 7 at the sheriff’s office and jail.
A week later, Everett told Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Jason Winters that he didn’t want to make any cuts. He then told a local radio station that he would let the next administration deal with the budget.
But Winters said that’s not an option. He said the sheriff is obligated to manage his funds and he can’t go over budget. Neither can he fire half the patrol staff, Winters said.
Everett, who didn’t return calls seeking comment, will be replaced at the end of the year by one of the two sheriff’s candidates in the November election – Trion Police Officer Mark Schrader or former Chattooga sheriff’s Deputy Jamie Dawson.