Judge rules against Lincoln County in lawsuit

A judge has ruled that state law does not let county commissions change an annual budget because of a shortfall.
The ruling by Judge David Mobley means the Lincoln County Commission must pay bills from Sheriff Mike Krigbaum.
Krigbaum sued the county after commissioners cut $1.3 million from his department’s budget in June, six months after the budget had been set and two months after commissioners had sent him a letter capping sheriff’s department expenses.
Commissioners cited the need to cut expenses due to a drop in sales tax revenue.
Mobley cited a 1992 Missouri Supreme Court case that said once “appropriations are fixed and the appropriation order entered, the commission may not control the spending decisions made within appropriations to that office and the officeholder may expend funds appropriate as he/she sees fit.”
Mobley said bills submitted by Krigbaum did not exceed his original budget as approved by commissioners.