Sheriff David Morgan has to offered to delay transferring the county jail to the Board of County Commissioners for an year—until Oct. 1, 2014. Clearly from the letter, the sheriff is more comfortable working with the commissioners now that it appears George Touart, the interim county administrator, will be replaced by Feb. 28, 2014.
The conditions of the Escambia Sheriff’s Office retaining management of the jail are:
1) The county will agree to increase the Jail Budget for FY 2013-2014 by $2.6 million to allow for hiring of the increased staffing recommended by DOJ.
2) Sheriff Morgan will defer seeking pay parity for the detention deputies and staff.
3) Sheriff Morgan will agree not to appeal this budget to the Governor, provided the budget isn’t reduced from previously agreed upon levels by county staff.
This letter will be up for discussion at the BCC regular meeting on Thursday, July 25.