By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – A candidate for sheriff in Kosciusko County is applauding state legislation that would require sheriffs to sign a salary contract with the county and prohibit sheriffs from profiting from the collection of tax warrants.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jim Smith, who is challenging incumbent Sheriff Kyle Dukes, issued a statement last week supporting Senate Bill 349, authored by State Sen. Ryan Mishler.

Sheriffs in Indiana can either sign a contract with the county for a specific salary or fall back onto a practice outlined by state law that allows them to collect a salary based on a calculation that involves the county prosecutor’s salary.

The legislation would also prohibit sheriffs from collecting a part of the money from tax warrant collections.

Smith said he’s in full support of the bill as it is currently written.

Smith has criticized Dukes for opting out of a traditional contract with the county and choosing to use an alternate method allowed under state statute – a switch that puts his salary among the highest of any sheriffs in the state, according to Smith.

SB 349 would require the county to enter into a contract with the sheriff and repeal provisions that allow a sheriff to retain a portion of tax warrant collection fees and directs that the tax warrant revenues go to the county general fund.

In a news release, Smith noted one of his goals as sheriff is to be fiscally responsible and pledged to take a salary less than the current sheriff.

Smith said that in Dukes’ first year, he received a $35,000+ increase over the previous sheriff’s salary and that the current salary is $164,950.

Smith said he believes the current sheriff’s salary “has gotten out of control,” said he would instead “enter into fair-minded negotiations with the county council” and pledged his salary would be considerably less than the current level.

“Smith never went into law enforcement to get rich, but rather to serve the public. The current sheriff opted to retain a portion of tax warrant collection fees, something that recent sheriffs had not done,” the news release said.

Dukes was asked about the legislation, but had little to say on the matter.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said.

The bill was assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In a related matter, Smith will host a campaign event from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Warsaw American Legion, 301 N. Buffalo St. The public is welcome.