FANNIN SHERIFF, COMMMISSIONER DISAGREE OVER DRUG SEIZURE MONEY

BONHAM --Sheriff Kenneth Moore and Fannin County Commissioner Pat
Hilliard faced off Monday morning over how to spend $40,000 of drug
forfeiture money and how to pay for housing female inmates out of the county.

Moore refused to pay the inmate or any other general fund expense
with drug seizure money he's accumulated. "I can tell you, that's not
going to happen," he said. "In regard to these seizure funds, a lot
of work goes into that. It's not something that just happens
overnight." Hilliard still disagreed and thought Moore should help
pay for patrol cars, he said. But the Court voted 4-1 to allow Moore
to spend $25,000 on equipment, $7,000 on training and $6,000 on
computers and software. Hilliard, alone, opposed.

Hilliard pointed out that the county is in debt because of FCSO
patrol cars. "The funds are there and we are in debt for new cars. We
owe money for cars for the first time since I've been on the court
and I would like to see you turn over some of that money to help us
on that debt. That's equipment. You can sign the money over to the
county to do that."

Moore said, "Yes, sir. I can but I'm not going to."

Moore said FCSO does not have an equipment or training line item in
the budget and the seizure funds help. "We've made every attempt in
the world to try to keep our jail population down, but the fact is,
it's going to stay status quo or go up." He said the new jail was
not designed to handle the number of women it currently houses. "We
don't have the facilities to handle more than 20 and I understand the
sheriff's office is the biggest draw on the budget. The reason is
because of the jail."

Hilliard said that the only way the county can finance Moore is
through property taxes and Moore said he knows that. "If the state
puts appraisal and revenue caps on, does everybody know what's fixing
to happen in Fannin County? There will be cuts on top of cuts and
road and bridge will practically cease to exist if this goes through.
I like to pay my bills and we've got the money in hand. This is one
of the ways you could help us pay this debt."

Moore insisted that he needs the money for equipment, training and
information technology.

Hilliard told him, "You come back before the court and we'll see how
much we've got."

Commissioner Stan Barker asked Moore what he needs and Moore said he
needs computers, furniture, "numerous and sundry things we use on a
daily basis." Hilliard said he does not want to have to come to FCSO
and check to see if the need for computers exists, but either way,
that should all come out of the general fund.

Barker protested when County Attorney Richard Glaser supported the
sheriff and talked about the number of cases he's dealt with in the
past year. "That is not even on the agenda," Barker said.

That's more reason for the sheriff to turn over the forfeiture money
back to the county to help pay for all that extra work, Hilliard said.

County Judge Derrell Hall looks at the forfeiture money as an
unexpected treat, he said, and Commissioner Dewayne Strickland added,
"The only benefit we're going to really have is that he won't be
coming back asking the court for money."

Hilliard persisted in saying the sheriff needs to help pay for cars
the county bought on credit. "This is a free check given to you and
we're just going to have to keep socking it to the poor old taxpayer
out here to keep the sheriff's department running."

Moore told him the seizure funds are not going to be spent in any
other way than to take care of what his needs are right now.