Burke County Sheriff Requests Urgent Meeting with Commissioners

Burke County Commissioners have let Sheriff Alfonzo Williams know his department won't have money to pay its 130 employees after sometime in August.  Williams has let Commissioners know in the past he hasn't had enough money allocated to his department to run it effectively.  Commissioners, on the hand, have accused Williams of overspending.  They've told Williams there's a freeze on hiring in his department until at least the start of the new fiscal year in October.

Today, Williams sent an email to Commissioners, requesting an emergency meeting.  Here's what Williams sent:

"Respectfully, I am requesting a meeting with the commission in the immediate future to discuss your most recent letter regarding the FY2023 budget; the failure to honor promotions and raises for employees; the urgency of law enforcement shortages locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally; and the recruitment/retention of personnel.

The sheriff's office plays a vital role in maintaining and improving the quality of life for our mutual constituents, and those public services require adequate funding.  Safety is of the utmost importance in carrying out law enforcement duties.  As seen across Georgia and with the Burke County Sheriff's Office, several line-of-duty shootings and injuries have occurred.

Our hiring efforts reflect the awareness of the need for equity in competing for eligible prospective employees with experience and the desire to remain in law enforcement.  Once employees are hired, training, equipment, and other necessary tools are required to maintain those standards.

I look forward to working with you to reach an amicable resolution that allows me to perform my constitutional responsibilities to the citizens, residents, and taxpayers of Burke County as well as the employees of the Burke County Sheriff's Office. Please let me know if your schedule will allow you (the commission ) to meet with me by the end of this week."

No word yet from members of the Burke County Commission as to whether they plan to meet with Williams.