At $577,500, the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office’s 2013 fiscal year budget will be slightly larger than its previous budget, with deputies and court security officers getting a pay raise and all staff becoming full-time employees.

Trigg County Sheriff Ray Burnam presented his budget to the Trigg County Fiscal Court when they met Monday evening. This was the first meeting of the new year and the first meeting with new Trigg County Judge Executive Hollis Alexander at the helm.

The previous TSCO budget was $568,000. Burnam said he’s at “full staff” with six full-time deputies, one of which is in charge of animal control, although he also said that he “has one position left open” for an animal control officer.

Burnam called animal control “a nightmare,” saying he doesn’t think his animal control officer is paid enough for what he does. He was paid $21,853 last year, and Burnam wants $27,000 from the Fiscal Court, saying he’ll find another $3,000 or so in cuts to up his pay to about $30,000.

“The amount of money that the Fiscal Court gave … that was extra money that you all gave,” Burnam said. “Last year, we got $21,853. I know the Fiscal Court wants us to have a top certified deputy to do that. You can’t do that for that amount of money. You just can’t do it.”

For the rest of this story, see this week's issue of The Cadiz Record or subscribe to our e-Edition by calling 270-522-6605.