Wednesday, May 23rd

SHERIFF SECURES $5.5 MIL;

ENDS FISCAL YEAR 07 IN BLACK 

            The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department will receive $5.5 million in additional state funds to operate the jail, Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. announced Wednesday May 23^rd.

McDonald said nearly $17 million in supplemental funding had been sought by county sheriffs, after a statewide downturn in the state’s real estate market this year.  Funds used from deeds excise taxes, along with state funds, are used to pay for community corrections, he noted.

The week before, the County Government Finance Review Board approved $3.5 million for Plymouth. On Wednesday, McDonald said another $2 million was secured.

“I want to thank the Patrick Administration and the Legislature for acting swiftly to address this budget gap,” said McDonald. “This will allow our department to finish in the black for the second year in a row.”

Since taking office in January 2005, the sheriff has attended nearly every one of the CGFRB’s monthly meetings. “The funding is a vote of confidence from the board in my department, its services and employees. The state is taking note that Plymouth County has the lowest per-capita cost for housing and caring for inmates.”

McDonald said he will continue to work to change the funding process for county sheriffs to make sure Plymouth County receives its fair share.  He said seven sheriffs are now funded directly by the state, while the remaining seven, including Plymouth, rely upon a complex formula of direct appropriations, local payments and deeds excise taxes.                                      

Copyright © 2006 [Plymouth County Sheriff's Department]