THE ISSUES

Did You Know?

As it stands, Sumter County Sheriff’s Department deputies are the lowest paid      officers in the region.  However, Sumter is the 7th largest growing city in the State.

Our campaign will make competitive pay a priority for these loyal men and women. 

The following excerpt was taken from the minutes of the Sumter County Council regular meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2019:

ACTION:  MOTION was made by Councilman Baten and seconded by Councilman McGhaney for Council to take  action increasing the salaries of the Sheriff’s Office Employees and the salaries of those employees at Sumter Lee Detention Center  Officers by adopting an Emergency Budget Ordinance to fund the increase.

ACTION:  MOTION was restated to have a budget amendment to allow for salary increases for the Sheriff’s Office and the Detention Center employees.  Councilman Baten voted in the affirmative, Councilman McGhaney did not vote due to a conflict of interest, and the following council members voted in opposition, Baker, Byrd, Edens, McCain, and Sumpter.  The motion failed and did not carry.

You should note from the preceding roll call vote that Mr. Sumpter (County Council District One) voted against the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department on this important issue.

As your councilman, I would vote in favor of this motion and seek to find the resources not only to ensure competitive pay, but to also ensure our dedicated law enforcement officers have the necessary resources to perform essential and critical services, safely and   productively.

Did You Know?

Since 1975, the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center has been under the control of Sumter County Council. It was one of the few remaining jails in South Carolina that was not under the control of the county sheriff's department.

In September 2017, the Sumter County Sheriff's Department assumed control of the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. Shortly thereafter, the Sumter County Sheriff's Department also agreed to manage a Federal inmate housing program at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.

As a result of excellent implementation and management practices, the Sheriff's Department generated a revenue stream totaling $761,020.34 in 2018; and in 2019 the Department generated revenue in excess of $1 million.

Despite multiple appeals and presentations by and on behalf of the Sumter County Sheriff's Department, County Council has continuously underfunded the Sheriff's Department.

Major Allen Dailey who is in charge of the Sheriff's Department's hiring process, reported to County Council that the Department has had great difficulty securing applicants who are willing to put their life on the line for so little pay. According to Major Dailey, the Sheriff's Department has a major officer retention problem.

Similarly, Captain Chanae Lumpkin of the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center, advises that as a result of the lack of pay, the Detention Center has lost 25-30% of its staff.

The impact has dealt the Detention Center a double whammy. Not only is the Detention Center forced to hire inexperienced officers, they also have to train those officers, creating an additional expense.

Sumter County Council members have been briefed on the critical disparities. However, Council members have raised questions about identifying a funding source to address the pay disparity.

As you councilman, I would propose using at least a portion of the revenue generated by the Sheriff's Department, as a starting point, to begin funding necessary increases in officer's pay.

As it currently stands, the revenue generated by the Sheriff's Department is transferred into the Sumter County General Fund; where it is subsequently allocated by Sumter County Council during their annual budget in May/June.

We can do better. We should do better.

Did You Know?

Valerie Brunson is the Director of the Sumter County Veterans Affairs.  Ms. Brunson was recently recognized as the most Outstanding Veterans Affairs Officer in South   Carolina.

During the Sumter County Council Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget workshop, Ms. Brunson informed Sumter County Council of the need for one (1) additional FTE (full time employee) costing $40,000. 

Presently, there is the VOA and a benefits counselor managing 16,208 active Veteran accounts with 13,021 receiving VA benefits.  In 2018 there were 4,271 office visits and 1,979 claims filed.  Unfortunately, service to over 3,000 Veterans is lacking due to limited staff.

Ms. Brunson also communicated to Council that if the County could not help with a full time person, she would be thankful to have a part-time person, but additional help is very much needed.

Following the presentation for new positions, Councilman Jimmy Byrd made the motion to deny the new position requests. 

Councilman Artie Baker commented, “the new positions will cost more for businesses than homeowners.”

Sumter County Council members Byrd, Edens, Baker (ALL REPUBLICANS) and Chris Sumpter (District One) voted in the affirmative to deny the new position requests.  Council members Baten, McGhaney and McCain (ALL DEMOCRATS) voted in opposition to the motion to deny the new position requests.

As your Councilman I would have found $40,000 in a $50 million budget to meet the critical needs on   behalf of our Veterans.  This mentality of BUSINESS first and EVERYONE (else) LAST is unacceptable. 

We can do better. We should do better.