MARIETTA — Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens strongly denied recent claims about the jail’s upkeep and budget. He called those statements “an outright lie.”
The controversy began after Republican Commissioner Keli Gambrill criticized the sheriff’s office. She questioned a $1.7 million request for jail maintenance and said county leaders weren’t treating the budget with respect.
In a public response, Sheriff Owens said the accusations were wrong and unfair. He emphasized that the money requested was needed to keep the jail safe and functional. He also pointed out that the county regularly reviews and approves these types of maintenance costs.
Commissioner Gambrill argued the sheriff should be more budget-conscious. She claimed the maintenance bill was part of a bigger spending problem.
This issue came about three months after security flaws were found in the jail. It also happens just before the county finalizes its budget, bringing extra attention to the sheriff’s funding requests.
Both sides now await the county’s decision on how much money will be approved. This debate is shaping up to be a key issue as local voters watch how public money gets spent—and how officials defend their choices.