The Shelby County Board of Commissioners convened on June 16, 2025, for a working session focused on the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO). The meeting aimed to clarify budgetary concerns and address various funding requests related to the sheriff's department.

The session began with discussions surrounding the sheriff's budget, which has seen an increase funded by the general fund. Questions arose regarding the necessity of certain budget items, with Deputy CFO Michael Thompson indicating that several positions and requests were already accounted for in the existing budget. Specifically, he noted that items 2, 3, 5, and 7 were considered "mute" as they were already included in the budget, while items 1, 4, 6, and 8 remained under consideration.

Commissioner Mills raised concerns about the clarity of the budget allocations, particularly regarding the trust between the administration and the sheriff's office. Chief Administrative Officer Alicia Lindsey expressed uncertainty about the presence of certain funds in the sheriff's budget, highlighting a need for documentation to clarify the budgetary processes.

A significant point of contention was the $44 million salary restriction linked to recent legislative changes, which could expose the county to legal challenges if not addressed. Human Resources Director Gerald Thornton and County Attorney Omar Ingram clarified that the recent legislation did not grant additional rights to sue regarding budgetary matters.

The meeting also addressed item 4, which proposed salary adjustments for correction deputies to align with the deputy sheriff's association, totaling approximately $1.27 million. However, it was noted that this item required further approval through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) before any action could be taken.

As the session concluded, it was made clear that no votes would be taken during this meeting. Instead, the discussions were intended to prepare the board for future decisions regarding the budget. The commissioners will reconvene to further evaluate the budget items, with the possibility of bifurcating the votes on individual items in the upcoming sessions. The meeting underscored the complexities of budget management within the sheriff's office and the need for clear communication and documentation to ensure effective governance.