Cleveland Co. Commissioners "bailout" sheriff for $3.2 million in overspending

CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – Cleveland County Commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of funds to a “taxpayer assisted bailout fund” to cover more than $3 million in overspending by Sheriff Chris Amason. The county budget board later voted to approve the transfer of money from two of the county’s accounts.

The sheriff’s office is in the red by $3.2 million but that number could be even higher.

"This is an estimate," said Rusty Grissom, District 3 commissioner.

The millions in overspending by Sheriff Chris Amason was on top of the original $18 million budget for the fiscal year, which ends in June.

The biggest concern being payroll. There was no money left to pay staff, from deputies to detention center officers, in the budget. There were also outstanding utility bills and promised payments to banks for loans.

"This is money that needs to be transferred so that we can get those paid," said Rod Cleveland, District 1 commissioner, who said it could take years for the county to recoup the money.

The money was earmarked for ongoing projects within the county.

“Specifically, these funds were originally set aside for insurance deductibles and contingencies related to major repairs and the replacement of mechanical assets, elevators, plumbing, and electrical systems within county-owned properties,” said Cleveland. “To ensure the continued operations and support of the sheriff's office for the remainder of the fiscal year, these funds have been transferred to a newly established General Fund account.”

The decision came one week after the county and the sheriff’s office settled a lawsuit with Terri Allison, the former CFO for the sheriff’s office. Allison was fired in January 2023, two months after reporting misuse of public funds within the sheriff’s office. Court documents showed she reported Amason was overspending on travel and purchasing “supplies, materials and equipment without a purchase order.”

Amason would not speak to reporters during Monday’s meeting but did send KFOR a statement.

"I appreciated the collaborative spirit of Monday's meeting and am grateful for the county budget board's willingness to work with me to resolve this issue," said Amason. He also submitted a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, from July 2024 to June 2025. It was $400,000 less than last year. It does not include more than $800,000 for “personnel contingency” that was earmarked in the budget for 2023-2024.