With the ongoing debate between Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson and several members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court payroll for county employees was not paid out on January 15 as regularly scheduled due to no budget being passed.
The Quorum Court passed a budget at the end of 2024, however, Robinson vetoed the budget. The Quorum Court discussed a budget at Monday night’s meeting, however, no budget was passed.
County officers held a press conference Wednesday at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to discuss the lack of a budget and the lack of pay for county worker, with Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. saying the lack of pay lies directly on the shoulders of County Judge Gerald Robinson.
Woods went on to say that part of the issue is an abuse of power by Robinson, and that everyone should be working together.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Operations Commander, Major John Bean, said that 100% of the Sheriff’s Office employees have continued to show up for work despite the lack of pay.
Bean added that 56 positions within the Sheriff’s Office would be affected by a budget proposed by the County Judge.
Bean added that medical care for inmates would be cut, as would funding for food for juvenile inmates housed in Jefferson County.
Other county department heads spoke on cuts to their offices as well. Deltaplex News will have more on them in future stories.
