[FONT=Georgia]September 17, 2008 - 4:17PM[/FONT] [EMAIL=""][U][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=#0000ff]Kevin Chilcutt[/COLOR][/FONT][/U][/EMAIL] [FONT=Georgia]As reported by WZEP 1460 AM[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia]When county commissioners were unreceptive to Walton County Sheriff Ralph Johnson's request for an additional $320,000 to his 2008-09 budget, Johnson immediately took measures to reduce his budget.[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia]In a memo dated Sept. 16, the sheriff advised all supervisors and deputies that beginning on Oct. 1, all those taking a county-owned vehicle home will be charged $100.[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia]The day before, county commissioners had rebuffed Johnson's request for additional funding.[/FONT] It appears this "shortfall" is the direct result of Sheriff Johnson hiring more employees than he was budgeted for. It is my understanding that the $100 fee is not optional, even if you chose to park the car at the office. It is more testament to the fact that Sheriff Johnson's fiscal management is/was in dire straights due to poor management practices, something that was brought to light numerous times during the primary. Unfortunately, the innocent hard workers will suffer, again; remeber the payroll tax fiasco? I also understand he paid the CPA $70,000 for services rendered. That baby went out with the bath water, dont you think?
