It was revealed during an Aug. 4 Swain Commission meeting that Sheriff Brian Kirkland invited three deputies and their families on a five-night trip to Myrtle Beach to attend a conference — almost completely on the county’s dime. The event in question appears to be the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association 2026 Annual Business Conference, held from Friday, July 24, to Tuesday, July 28. A frustrated Commissioner David Loftis directly questioned Kirkland about the cost and program details, explaining that in a county so financially stretched as Swain, spending should be more conservative.
“We just placed a budget that’s over $2 million more than this county brings in, and I’m sitting here discussing stuff like a family vacation at our taxpayers’ expense,” he said.
While Kirkland insisted he paid for his family’s food himself, it’s unclear whether other deputies did the same — and if the county funded other non-personnel expenses.
Another potentially troublesome factor is the use of departmental vehicles, which family members are generally prohibited to use for conferences and other similar circumstances. If the sheriff has the power to make exceptions, his relatives may have been legitimate passengers. But this would likely constitute a breach of county policy if authority were vested elsewhere.
There’s also the county’s insurance policy, which may or may not permit spouses and children. Coverage, however, does not guarantee authorization.
Loftis made it clear that the conversation was far from over, directing County Manager Tommy Dills to obtain an itemized bill of all costs from the conference.
One thing is true at the end of the day: Relatively speaking, Swain County heavily funds its sheriff’s office. In the most recent fiscal year, the department spent $4,385,663 in county dollars. By comparison, education appropriations totaled $2,803,971.