Dreda Newman, a school aide, wondered about the cost of furniture at the new Sheriff's Office.

At first, it sounded like Dreda Newman was complimenting the King George Board of Supervisors. She alluded to a recent article about in which the county’s financial consultant congratulated the supervisors for the way they handle county money.

Then, Newman, an instructional aide at Sealston Elementary School, pointed out some items for the new Sheriff’s Office that seemed overpriced to her. She mentioned furniture worth $73,739, including La-Z-Boy recliners, ergonomic leather chairs and coffee makers costing more than $300.

“I just wanted to say, I’m trying to save some money here,” Newman said.

Chairman Cedell Brooks Jr. asked county officials if they knew anything about the prices. He reminded them that purchases go through procurement and that the county should get the cheapest price.

“Something funny going on here, or seems like it,” Brooks said.

In June 2009, Brooks had a fit when he noticed new chairs at King George Fire and Rescue headquarters on State Route 3. The chairs had padded seats with arms on the sides and wheels on the bottom—and cost $13,000 for the 60 of them.

“That’s ridiculous,” the supervisor said in June 2009. “That’s really terrible in these tight times when they need new equipment and turnout gear, and they order a chair at $215 a piece.”

Brooks asked County Administrator Travis Quesenberry to provide information about the cost of furniture at the Sheriff’s Office at the March 6 meeting.

Below is a link to a copy of the furniture invoice. I pulled it from the county’s Board of Supervisors agenda for Feb. 21.

Office furniture invoice