Fulton sheriff sues county over spending policy

Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat center filed suit against Fulton County over purchasing policies Provided by Fulton County Sheriff s Office Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat on June filed suit against Fulton County for interfering with his constitutional duties through ordinances that restrict his budget In a comment from the Sheriff s Office Labat revealed ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners undermine his office s constitutional authority The commissioners unlawfully interfered with his ability to manage his budget A Fulton County spokesperson recounted Rough Draft Atlanta that the county does not comment on pending litigation In July Rough Draft Atlanta communicated that the commissioners approved an ordinance that required constitutional officers including the sheriff to follow Fulton County s purchasing ordinance The ordinance required the sheriff superior court clerk tax commissioner and probate judge to appoint evaluation committees to make purchasing decisions through competitive selection The law did not require the elected bureaucrats to get commission approval for their purchases Labat stated those actions have prevented the purchase of lifesaving tools like Narcan which is an emergency healing for suspected opioid overdose The commission s action led to a decision to repair a dangerous and crumbling facility instead of replacing the Fulton County Jail Related stories Judge appoints Kenney to monitor Fulton County Jail improvements Sheriff s office overspends budget loses contract jail employees Fulton County Commission approves million for jail repairs upgrades Fulton Commissioners vote to abolish inmate welfare fund at county jail Let me be clear the Office of the Sheriff is not subordinate to the Board of Commissioners This is a constitutional office and I will defend that authority to its fullest extent under the law Labat stated When the purchasing ordinance was under consideration Fulton County Probate Judge Kenya Johnson solicited them to reconsider it She mentioned the commission could not establish a system where spending decisions of constitutional officers required approval The post Fulton sheriff sues county over spending approach appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta