SCOTT COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB) — A judge has ruled in favor of Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin, ordering the county council to fully fund his $4.4 million budget after nearly two years of bitter public disputes over finances.
The latest ruling comes after Goodin took his case to court, arguing that the council’s efforts to slash his budget by nearly $2 million in late 2024 were politically motivated and detrimental to public safety. That cut led to job losses in the sheriff’s office just weeks before Christmas.
“It is a shame that you have a couple of county council members that hate me so bad that they would risk the reputation of Scott County,” Goodin said in a Facebook video posted after the court ruling. “But it didn’t work.”
The judge’s decision now forces the Scott County Council to come up with the funds — a tall order in a year marked by new uncertainty. Recent legislation passed by Indiana lawmakers has left counties unsure of how much they’ll collect in property tax revenue next year.
Scott County Council President J.R. Ward said the decision creates a difficult situation.
“The reality is the sheriff was given a budget and he didn’t like it,” Ward said. “He mandated. He got more money. It has to come from somewhere.”
Scott County Council President James "JR" Ward
Ward said the council’s hands are tied when it comes to finding that money without cutting elsewhere.
“I would love to have worked with the sheriff through this,” he added. “But I can’t take from someone else and give to him, and I still don’t like to and still don’t want to.”
Tensions between the sheriff and the council ignited in April 2024 when the council threatened to stop making payments on three department vehicles, prompting Ford to threaten repossession. At the time, Goodin accused the council of playing politics with public safety, removing money from the sheriff's vehicle fund. The council said the money from the vehicle fund was removed to pay for deputy raises.
The feud was further exasperated when in November 2024 the council slashed Goodin’s budget, citing financial constraints. Since then, relations have only deteriorated between the sheriff and the council. The council passed a quarterly budget for the sheriff’s office — rather than a full-year plan — further aggravating tensions.
Now, with the judge's ruling, the sheriff will receive the full $4.4 million he originally requested — but the county must find a way to pay for it. Adding to the financial strain — taxpayers are covering legal fees for both sides from the lawsuit, which sources say are nearing $115,000.
The sheriff may have won in court, but the tension between his office and the council remains far from resolved, and Scott County taxpayers may ultimately feel the impact.
Officials said the county must now decide whether to raise taxes or cut services to make up the difference.
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