OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) co-authored House Bill 2914, last session that led to the creation of the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office Funding Assistance Gr.ant Program Act.
With an emergency tag, the grant program went into effect July 1 after Gov. Kevin Stitt approved the measure on June 14, and is administered by the Office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Applications for the grants are now being accepted.
A county can only submit one application per fiscal year however funds cannot be used for salaries. The intent of the grants is to strengthen services the sheriff’s offices provide to their counties.
Depending on their total tangible property valuation, counties can apply for grants from $150,000 to $300,000.
The act established a revolving fund that the state Legislature recently appropriated $18 million to support. The fund is designated as a continuing fund and is not subject to fiscal year limitations. The statute details, in part, that all monies accruing to the credit of the fund are appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Office of the Attorney General exclusively for the purposes and in compliance with the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office.
“County law enforcement, one of the lowest-paid agencies in the state, is getting a much-needed lift,” Ray McNair, executive director of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association said in a press release. “As property tax dollars can no longer fully support the rising costs, this grant will make a significant difference. This will surely have a positive impact on community safety and well-being.”
Approved uses of the grant funds encompass operations, including training, technology, equipment and capital improvements. A press release by Drummond’s office said that grant applications will be distributed to sheriff’s offices and county sheriffs must complete the application and have it approved and submitted by the Board of County Commissioners.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Sept. 6.