Beech Tree News Network

The meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court on Monday night started as a routine regular session with a short agenda. When it ended almost two-hours later Butler County deputy sheriffs were on strike after another heated battle over the budget for the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Scottie Ward addressed the Court on Monday night concerning his budget for 2016. Sheriff Ward presented a budget to the Court at their November 23rd regular session. Ward said at that time that he had lowered his budget by approximately $41 dollars, and wanted to give the magistrates ample time to review his budget prior to Monday night's meeting.

The budget presented by Sheriff Ward on Monday night came to a total of $537,367.36, with the Fiscal Court contribution totaling $195,630.

The sheriff told the Court that he was able to lower his budget by an additional $5,000. Ward said his tax receipts for November were higher than he anticipated, so he was able to make more budget cuts. The Court cut the budget for the sheriff's office by $8,000 in its 2015-16 budget before a compromise restored funding to the sheriff.

In the meeting on Monday, Ward said he knew cuts needed to be made and he was able to find a way to lower his budget by $5,000.

When discussion opened concerning the sheriff's budget, Third District Magistrate Chad Tyree entered into a nearly 40-minute question and answer session with Sheriff Ward. Tyree thanked Ward for cutting the budget, but asked, "...Is there anywhere else you can cut?"

Ward answered by explaining to Tyree that unlike the county clerk's office, his office can't operate on what it takes in. "I'm trying my best to do my part to cut things," said Ward.

Tyree countered Ward, admitting that budget increases had stopped for the Sheriff's Department, but pointed out that the Fiscal Court still gives the department over $195,000. Said Ward in response, "We live in a different world than we did five years ago."

According to Ward, his office has four full-time deputies and the school resource officer. He said he had cut his bailiff and one secretary to part-time, but was able to find funding to provide a bailiff for 30-hours per week.

Ward told Tyree, "If you don't give me enough to provide the county service it comes back on you."

Kathy Thomas, a spectator at the meeting and Ward's mother-in-law, attempted to question the Court about where funding will come from to clean and maintain the new Senior Citizen's Center if funding wasn't available for the sheriff's office. Judge Fields told Thomas that the discussion needed to be limited to Court members and that she could direct other questions regarding funding and the budget to him in his office.

Ward continued his discussion with Magistrate Tyree. Ward maintains that he was assured during this year's earlier budget fight that all offices and services would face budget cuts. "Let's not pick on one person," said the sheriff.

The exchange between Ward and Tyree continued. Tyree maintained that all elected officials had been asked to cut their budgets. Ward answered that statement, pointing out that he cut his budget, and asked if any other office had cut theirs.

The sheriff explained that the budget he presented represents the bare minimum he can budget and still provide 24-hour law enforcement to the county. As he has in the past, Ward said that he is just trying to do what's right for his deputies. Ward also pointed out that Tyree had voted to approve his budgets, to which Tyree said, "Money was more readily available then."

The sheriff outlined to the Court that his deputies have a hard, often thankless job, and have to deal with many different situations. To illustrate his point, Ward told the Court that his office recently had to arrest a man for threatening to shoot Jailer Terry Fugate and harm Ward's three children. According Ward, the man said he would "...put three bullets in Terry's head and cut my three kids' throats. And this is the kind of stuff I put up with all the time," said Ward.

Ward told Tyree that expenses aren't going to go down, neither for his office, nor for his deputies and other people living in Butler County. He also said that its unlikely for funds to go up, although he did say some more tax money might be collected if the county votes in favor of selling liquor.

Ward said that his deputies get paid the same as officers of the Morgantown Police Department, but unlike M.P.D. officers, his deputies don't receive hazardous duty time, and have all their insurance paid. He said that lack of hazardous duty time means his deputies will pay in excess of $1,000 per month more for insurance once they retire.

"I'm just trying to protect my guys, run my office, and keep someone (a deputy) out all the time (on patrol)," said the sheriff.

Ward concluded the exchange with Tyree saying, "I think keeping the citizens of the county safe is more important than some other things that are going on."

The sheriff's budget is due at the office of the State Local Finance Officer no later than January 15,  2016. However, the sheriff has to have his budget finalized in order to get a loan of operating capital by January 1, 2016.

When the discussion closed Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill made a motion to table discussion of the budget until the next regular meeting of the Fiscal Court on December 28th. Second District Magistrate Johnny Tuck gave a second. Whittinghill said that the Court needed time to examine the sheriff's budget and determine what services the county gets for its contribution.

Ward asked Whittinghill why he hadn't already reviewed the budget since it had been given to the magistrates on November 23rd. Ward asked, "Why didn't you look at it?"

Whittinghill replied that he had looked at it, to which Ward replied, "Then why don't you know what's in it?"

When Whittinghill attempted to answer, Ward cut him off saying, "You shut up!" That caused Whittinghill and others in the courtroom to shout that the magistrate had been threatened by the sheriff.

After the meeting was gaveled back into order by Judge Executive David Fields, a roll call vote was taken wiith magistrates Johnny Tuck, Chad Tyree, and David Whittinghill voting 'yay' on the motion to table the budget.  It passed by a 3-1 tally. Fifth District Magistrate Bobby Moore was absent from the meeting. First District Magistrate Stevie Givens voted against the motion.

After the vote Sheriff Ward told the Court that he would be out of town on the 28th and couldn't attend the meeting.  Ward has a family vacation planned December 25 through January 2.  Judge Fields told Ward that the motion passed and the only way to amend it would be for Magistrate Whittinghill to agree to it since he was the person that made the motion.

Whittinghill indicated that he would not change his motion. Visitor Kathy Thomas asked why Whittinghill wouldn't change his motion. Ward echoed her question, saying that it was unfair to discuss, and possibly pass a budget for his office without him present. Deputy Joe Alford asked why the Fiscal Court routinely had special sessions but couldn't have one on the 21st to allow the sheriff to attend the meeting.

With voices raised and several people all talking at once, County Attorney Dick Deye asked for the meeting to be gaveled back to order.

When Judge Fields had order restored he explained that even if a special session was called, the sheriff's budget couldn't be discussed unless Magistrate Whittinghill agreed to amend his motion. Whittinghill told the Court he would not change his motion to table the budget.

The next agenda item was the County Clerk's budget for 2016. Ward asked the Court if the clerk's budget would be tabled until December 28th. According to Ward if his budget needed extra scrutiny it is only fair that other budgets be closely examined as well.

Ward was again told the matter couldn't be discussed further until December 28th. The sheriff asked Whittinghill directly why he wouldn't reschedule the discussion of the budget. Whittinghill replied, "No comment."

Ward then charged that Whittinghill's repeated objections and resistance to funding the sheriff's office stemmed from Ward's refusal to, "do what Whittinghill and Robert Cron wanted me to do."

Sheriff Ward then shocked the Court by announcing that he had no choice but to close the Butler County Sheriff's Office until December 28th.

"We're shutting down until we have that meeting," stated Ward.

Ward could then be overheard telling deputies that they were laid off and could sign up for unemployment benefits.

After the rest of the agenda was dealt with, Magistrate Stevie Givens once again asked Magistrate David Whittinghill to amend his motion. Whittinghill refused, saying time was needed to look at the budget and a busy time was upcoming with the Christmas holidays.

Magistrate Chad Tyree told Givens, "it was Scottie's choice to do what he did, it's not on us."

Givens told Tyree that Sheriff Ward was trying to help with the budget and reminded him the sheriff lowered his budget by $5,000. David Whittinghill maintained once again that time was needed to look over the budget.

Givens then directly asked Whittinghill if he would change his mind and reschedule the discussion. Whittinghill answered, "No."

The meeting was then adjourned.

Following the meeting Sheriff Ward told Beech Tree News that he hadn't laid his deputies off. Instead, after the meeting the deputies met and voted to go on "strike" until the budget dispute is resolved. As of 6 o'clock on Monday evening, all Butler County Deputy Sheriffs are on strike.

The sheriff said that the strike means there will be no deputies on patrol, which includes no traffic direction at Butler County High School and no School Resource Officer. Ward is constitutionally obligated to keep his office open and to provide basic services but he will be the only officer on duty.

Sheriff Ward released the following statement on this Facebook page earlier tonight:  

"To all the citizens of Butler County. Tonight there was a Fiscal court meeting to vote on my budget that turned into a circus. I gave each fiscal court member a copy of my budget on November 10 to look over so they could vote on it tonight but that didn't happen. I stood in front of the court for almost a hour getting drilled with questions that I answered the best I could and after all of that David Whittinghill makes a motion to table it til 12/28 knowing I will have no money on 01/01/16. David never even looked at my budget thru the whole meeting and waited to the last minute to table it til 12/28 knowing I wouldn't get it in time. My deputies do the best job they can and I am proud to have each one them. With no budget effective now all of my deputies will be on strike until we get a budget. Each citizen needs to contact your magistrate and let them know we need r Sheriffs Dept. I am not letting any of u down I'm only doing what fiscal court has forced the deputies to do. My office will be open to collect taxes and court security only. Fiscal court can build recycling building and senior citizens building put in a 10,000 dollar break room but they refuse to supply law enforcement to the county. I'm truly sorry but I can't force guys to put there life on the line for no money. My next post will have each one of your magistrate phone number call and them know we need r sheriffs office and we need it 24/7."

The next regular session of the Fiscal Court will be on Monday, December 28th at 5 p.m at the Butler County Courthouse.

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Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News.