Haywood Co. Budget Debate Continues
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Haywood County leaders says they will not be able to hire the 21 employees recommended to meet state standards for their criminal justice complex. On October 31, Tennessee Correctional Institute will make their final observation of the jail, which was last reported below state standards. TCI inspector Robert Kane says if decertified, the jail could lose state funds and will not be protected by liability insurance if the jail were to be sued. Kane recommended 21 new workers be hired to fix the problems. County Commissioner Becky Booth says commissioners only voted to add two. ‘We’re settling with two because that’s all we can pay for right now. We’re gonna try with those two and with the sheriff’s help and all of the jailers, we’ll see if that two will work,” said Booth. If the October 31 inspection does indeed lead to a decertification recommendation, Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith says he and the Sheriff plan to appeal the findings.
