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| Morgan Talks Budget Cuts |
| By northescambia.com |
| Published: 04/09/2009 |
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Escambia Sheriff David Morgan held a press conference Wednesday to explain $4 million in cuts to his budget. Even though it is a five percent reduction, it is still short of the $6.5 million the county commission wants him to cut. With $4 million in cuts, the sheriff said he can continue to operate his department without impacting public safety, but if more money were to be cut, the public safety would be impacted. “We can operate the sheriff’s office on the par that we are with a $4 million dollar cut,” he said. “A reduction of 4 million dollars, folks, that’s a lot of money.” While Morgan may take his budget needs to the commission, he says he will do so without talking to County Administrator Bob McLaughlin. Morgan cut off communications with Morgan a few weeks ago, accusing McLaughlin of miscommunicating his intentions to the county’s five commissioners. “What I can not deal with, OK, is somebody playing poker with me,” Morgan said. “We are not in a poker match here. We are all in this problem together. So we must deal openly, honestly and transparently with each other.” Morgan detailed his plans as first published on NorthEscambia.com back on April 1 and explained organization changes within his department. Morgan has already grounded the department’s air unit for an $800,000 annual savings. Now, he wants to eliminate the jail’s health services contract with an outside firm, providing jail health services in house for a $1.8 million savings. To save more money, some of Morgan’s other plans include: * renegotiate the jail’s food services contact to save $100,000 * eliminate up to $816,000 in salaries through retirements * cut another $450,000 in contracted positions and streamline administration * drop a mediation contract for $45,000 * drop county commissioner insurance paid by the ECSO for $25,000 Morgan’s budget stands at $78.7 million; his total savings as proposed would be up to $4,036,000. Morgan has restructured the organization chart for the department, cutting 10 directors down to three commanders. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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