A heated discussion regarding the county’s budget and the future of the Ray County Jail unfolded among Ray County Commissioners in a recent meeting. The group focused on balancing the needs of the sheriff’s department, courts, and the county’s overall financial constraints. One of the most contentious topics of the meeting was the issue of court security and deputy compensation. Presiding Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Walden explained the historical context of the number of deputies in the sheriff’s department, noting that two additional deputies had been added during the previous sheriff’s tenure – one for a full-time bailiff position and another to manage the security desk courthouse. “My role here is to determine how many deputies the sheriff receives and what their salaries will be,” stated Walden. “I have been involved with county budgets for 28 years, starting as a prosecutor and then as an associate judge. I continue to manage county budgets, which makes me…