By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A national supply chain problem is affecting Buchanan County, specifically the Sheriff’s Department, which is having trouble getting ammunition.
“We’re still waiting on ammunition that we ordered last December,” Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
Puett says, periodically, the manufacturer will ship part of the ammunition order, but only part. The scarcity of ammunition both due to the lingering effect of the coronavirus pandemic and fears of increased regulation is driving up prices, with the training ammunition Buchanan County orders going up 40%.
Puett says he has gone to the County Commission to ask for an adjustment to his budget.
“We’re not planning on decreasing services or anything,” Puett says. “In fact, we’re looking to increase services. But it will be one of those issues, as we go forward, that we could have to see some budget adjustments and things like that.”
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department uses two types of ammunition, one type used in training and the other used while deputies are on duty. Ammunition for training is cheaper. Still, the price tag of the latest order placed by the county was approximately $58,000. Puett is hoping to secure enough ammunition for the next couple of years, enough time he hopes to allow the prices to come down.
Still, the sheriff is faced with difficult decisions.
“Either you get 40% less and pay the same money or you pay 40% more for the same thing,” Puett says. “Both are not good options.”
Supply chain issues have had other effects. Puett says his new patrol pickup broke down on the way to Jefferson City. The parts are not readily available.