During a work session for the FY27 budget this month, with King George facing a budget deficit and the likely need to raise taxes, Supervisor Bryan Metts took issue with Flock cameras, and Supervisor Cathy Binder expressed opposition to using school zone cameras to generate revenue.

Funding for Flock

Next year’s budget for the King George Sheriff’s Office includes $48,000 for Flock licensing. Flock is a network of automated license plate reader cameras used by law enforcement to identify and track vehicles by capturing plate data and vehicle characteristics.

“The feedback I have gotten from the public is pretty against those Flock cameras. I have said as long as the state is providing the resources to make them available, I’m on a wait-and-see kind of perspective,” said Metts.

He asked for confirmation that the grant funding for this year has been approved. Sheriff Chris Giles said his office has applied.

Metts said if the state stops paying, he doesn’t see how the county justifies the spending for it. He said as an employee of the military base, he worries about the security issues of tracking everybody who comes in and out of the county every day.

“So I think that would be one I would target as we’re squeezing the budget this year. If we don’t get the grant for it, I don’t see how we continue to support that service—just me,” said Metts.

Chairman David Sullins said the sheriff has shared a litany of instances in which the Flock camera system was used.

Metts acknowledged there are good uses. “I think there’s just a general pushback on the surveillance state that Flock, a private company, brings with that service.

“Honestly, I’m surprised that the base hasn’t pushed back given that 70% of the base employees don’t live here in the county. So now a private company has record of every car that comes and goes and the times.”

Metts said that, based on conversations with the sheriff, the state has been providing the funds for the Flock system under an initiative focused on recovering stolen cars, which is a good use. However, most of the instances Sheriff Giles has shared involve recovering stolen cars from outside the county. Meanwhile, within the county Metts said he has received considerable pushback from the public.

School Zone Cameras

As the county is working through the finances, one source of revenue being discussed is school zone cameras.

“I don’t agree with that,” said Binder. “Here’s the thing—to keep the property tax low, we want to tax everywhere else. Think about that.” She noted that the cameras are continually being referred to as revenue makers.

Supervisor David Sullins said the school zone cameras are revenue makers, but they also hold people accountable to obey the law.

Supervisor William Davis said the cameras free up deputies to be in other places.

Metts said he would never be in favor of school zone cameras for revenue. He said he supports them for school zone safety and for freeing up deputies.

Binder said she has a problem with all the cameras. In response to the idea of cameras freeing deputies, she said, “You could say that if we put cameras everywhere to control speed. So, I’m not for that argument.”

Davis pushed back, saying drivers must be 11 miles over the speed limit to receive a ticket, and people are traveling at those speeds through school zones all the time. That’s a danger to the community and to children, and the cameras just happen to bring in revenue, he said.