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Sheriff refusing staff cuts

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 10:07 PM Thursday, October 29, 2009

HAMILTON — Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones sent a letter to commissioners Thursday, Oct. 29, refusing to cut personnel 11 percent as they suggested.

“This office has reduced costs and has generated a significant amount of revenue,” Jones said in the letter. “At this time I feel that it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to submit a budget that would require such additional drastic reductions and potentially put the public at further risk.

“Hopefully there are alternate solutions, but ultimately the decision is yours.”

Jones could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Chief Deputy Anthony said personnel is the biggest expense for the office and the sheriff has declined to make further cuts that would amount to 2.5 million.

In a letter sent Tuesday, Oct. 13, commissioners asked their departments and other elected officeholders for 11 percent cuts in non-mandated services to patch a projected $6.6 million hole next year.

They are asking for proposed budgets from these offices by today, Oct. 30, along with a list of which services they provide that are mandated by law. Everything else is on the table as commissioners work to craft a budget by Jan. 1.

Under initial projections, the hardest hit would be the sheriff’s office. It accounts for more than a quarter of the county’s total $89 million budget and is proposed to lose $2.5 million next year.

Cutting that much would “dramatically and severely impact public safety for the citizens,” said Dwyer earlier this year.

County Finance Director Pet Landrum said the sheriff’s office budget accounts for more than a third of the county’s general fund and more than 40 percent once mandated services are subtracted, he said.

Commissioner Gregory Jolivette said he finds it “very distressing” Jones would take such a stance.

Jolivette said Jones is “playing a power game and using public safety as the weapon.”

He added balancing the budget is not an option, noting if it is not done the county will go into default, the state will take over its finances and make the cuts.

taff Writer Josh Sw

igert

contributed to this story

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