By Billy Davis

Panola County’s interim sheriff was expected to discuss his proposed budget with county supervisors Thursday, his second trip before the county board in two weeks.

The expected topic is a request for Sheriff Otis Griffin to trim his proposed $2.9 million budget.

 “I have no idea. They just want me to come back,” said Sheriff Otis Griffin, when asked why he was returning to discuss his proposed budget.

The topic is clearer for county supervisors, since Panola County Administrator Kelley Magee pressed for sheriff’s department cuts at the board’s August 16 budget meeting.

Magee, in 2008, had pushed for off-duty sheriff’s deputies to park their cruisers at the department, which she said would save on fuel costs and maintenance costs. That suggestion never materialized.

She modified that suggestion at the Monday meeting, suggesting that part-time deputies, jailers and secretaries do not need a county-owned vehicle parked at their home.

Magee singled out a part-time jailer, telling supervisors the jailer “is driving every day,” even though he works a weekend shift. She passed out copies of Fuelman records to press her point.

Magee has also targeted cell phone usage, which costs the sheriff’s department $2,800 monthly for a Cellular South plan.

The sheriff’s department budget, with includes operation of the county jail, is the largest in the county, followed closely by the road department.

The sheriff’s budget has grown from $2.7 million in 2007-2008 to $2.9 million in the current year.

Griffin’s proposed budget shows an increase of about $35,000 over the current budget.

Supervisors have credited Magee for reining in a county budget that was in the red when she was hired in 2008. And they have praised her for keeping watch on a bare-bones budget ever since.

But supervisors sat in awkward silence at the Monday meeting, leaving in question whether they would follow the county administrator’s suggestions Thursday.

“We are down to the cutting part,” Magee said, with the sheriff’s department budget, due to its size, topping the list.  

When no one else spoke, Supervisor James Birge suggested that if the meeting was finished, “then I’m going on down the road.”   

The Panolian had gone to press when the budget meeting began late Thursday.