Sheriff Susan Hutson Gets a Much-Needed Win

So, Sheriff Susan Hutson got her money.
By a ring and an index finger.

What?
Two votes. Out of 25,428 cast, two votes saved the sheriff — and the city — from a fiscal catastrophe.

More like saved us from a little hyperbole.
I don’t think the sheriff’s office losing 13–20% of its budget is hyperbole.

Sounds like a scare tactic to justify a $12 million-a-year tax.
It’s not new. It’s a renewal — the same property tax we’ve reluctantly been paying for the last ten years.

Reluctantly?
Yes. Reluctantly paying less than $100 a year, on average.

How so?
That’s the average citizen’s portion.

And what do we get for that?
A jail that can actually house the people police arrest.

That jail is a dump. If inmates aren’t beating each other up, they’re wailing on deputies.
Imagine how bad it gets if the sheriff loses a big chunk of her budget.

We don’t even know what she’ll do with the money.
Sure we do. She’ll use it to pay deputies, maintain the jail, and fund training and education for inmates.

So basically, just keep the status quo.
Yes. And in this case, that’s not a bad thing.

Meanwhile, deputies are still making under $20 an hour.
You’ve got to talk to your City Council about that. They have to approve any raise she proposes.

Why?
Because the city funds 80% of the sheriff’s budget.

Why not just have the city fully fund the jail?
Where would they get the money?

Mayor Cantrell’s travel budget?
I think J.P. Morrell wants to give that to the school board.

Can’t the feds help?
They do — a little. About 5% of the budget. And they gave us a consent decree.

Wait. The sheriff’s office is under a consent decree?
For most of mankind’s existence.

Will this tax renewal help lift it?
No. But hiring 200 more people might. So will the new mental health facility under construction. The renewal just keeps the lights on.

This city is a mess.
It is. And we were two votes away from making it worse.

Was this the closest election in Orleans Parish history?
Probably.

A 9.6% turnout is disgraceful.
Sadly, it was expected.

What happens next?
The Secretary of State certifies the results.

Think the person behind those “No New Tax” signs will anonymously request a recount?
Who knows? What I do know is Susan Hutson needed a win.

She did. She’s been taking some Ls.
This wasn’t a comeback — more like a stay of execution.

Does it make her re-election more likely?
No. It just keeps the jail functioning.

The next sheriff’s race is going to be lit. Woodfork. Shorty. Williams. And Former Sheriff Gusman?
Drama level: high.

Who you got?
That’s another article. For now, let the sheriff enjoy this one.