- Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette says $615,000 in cuts will lead to reduced patrols, increased response times, and other reductions in law enforcement services.
- Schuette plans to cut 6 staff positions — all of them currently unfilled — and reduce capital outlays, including spending on vehicles and uniforms.
- County Commissioner Tony Bair thinks the cuts are unnecessary, given the state of the County's Reserve Fund, which is projected to be about $11 million, or about 22.5% of the budget.
- County Commissioner Phil Duckham thinks dipping into the Reserve Fund is not advisable to cover the shortfall created by the failure of the jail operations millage.
- County Commissioners are set to vote on proposed cuts to the Sheriff's budget Tuesday, December 17th.
- VIDEO highlights details of Sheriff's planned cuts and two Commissioners' opinions on using the County Reserve Fund to cover the shortfall created by the failure of the jail operations millage.
- WATCH THE BONUS VIDEO: An extended interview with Sheriff Schuette
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
The effect of proposed cuts to the Jackson County Sheriff's budget?
"It'll still be big," says Sheriff Gary Schuette.
Schuette now says $615,000 in County budget cuts will be felt mostly on the side of road patrol, as staffing and services are reduced:
"Decreased patrols in the County...response times are going to go up..."
Schuette says that after November's failed millage, cuts will be made by reducing capital outlays — one less vehicle, cheaper uniforms — and the elimination of 6 staff positions — 2 in corrections and 4 in road patrol. Those positions are currently unfilled.
"We put ourselves through kind of a self-imposed hiring freeze so that we wouldn't have to lay anybody off in the event this occurred," says the Sheriff.
WATCH THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH SHERIFF SCHUETTE:
Now we're also learning more about the County's bigger financial picture.
Commissioner Tony Bair questions the need for the cuts: "We don't need to cut $615,000 from the Sheriff's budget. We can take that out of our reserves."
The County's projected reserve for 2025 is about $11 million — or about 22.5%.
Bair says $615,000 less would leave the reserve well within the recommended range of 18–24%.
But not everyone agrees with that approach.
Commissioner Phil Duckham says: "We can't keep spending our budget surplus away, you know, a year at a time."
Duckham worries County revenues aren't keeping up with expenses. He believes the cuts won't leave the Sheriff short-handed.
"I promised to him: if you get a can't miss employee — this is a guy you've got to have, OK? — come to us, request extra, and maybe we can take that out of the budget surplus," says Duckham.
Commissioners are set to vote on the cuts Tuesday, December 17th.
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