Although the chair of the Vance County Board of Commissioners Danny Wright began the meeting by stating that it was not a time for the county to be adding new positions, the board indicated by four to three that it wished to add two law enforcement positions to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Wright as well as Commissioners Dan Brummitt and Tim Pegram dissented with the majority of members.
Commissioner Terry Garrison led the opposition to Wright’s opinion, telling the chair that “you can’t necessarily use a broad brush” when forming the budget. Stating that crime will get worse as the economy gets worse, Garrison indicated that [commissioners] need to do everything they can to maintain discipline in the schools.
Member Deborah Brown lent her support to Garrison, stating that the board needs to support what the sheriff is doing.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt told members that he views the requested positions as auxiliary.
Brown stated that the positions should be viewed as a service to taxpayers and citizens who are looking at [the commission] to put the necessary officers out there. She opined that citizens would look favorably on the additions.
Brummitt rejoined that citizens would look favorably on a lighter tax bill. He indicated that Sheriff Peter White “has done things” to reduce crime without increasing costs.
Commissioner Scott Hughes expressed that the commission needs “to take a proactive approach”. He said he thought that having an officer who comes to the schools would be “a good investment”.
When Commissioner Tim Pegram’s opinion was solicited by Danny Wright, he said that commissioners “have to look out for times that are coming”. In the end, however, he sided with Danny Wright and Brummitt when the vote was taken.