|
|
| Sheriff asks how he should cut his budget |
| By Henry A. Stephens |
| Published: 04/13/2009 |
|
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — When Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird asked former Sheriff Roy Raymond last summer to decrease his budget request by 15 percent, Raymond’s first response was a half-percent increase before the two eventually settled on a 1 percent cut. A 15 percent cut would have meant firing 80 deputies and 52 civilians, Raymond complained at the time. New Sheriff Deryl Loar, with five months in office, is making similar objections to Baird’s request that he cut 12.3 percent from the current budget. “I’m getting the message to do more with less, but we’re already doing more with the same and that’s a struggle,” he said Thursday. While former sheriffs typically discussed their requests in letters to Baird or in budget workshops with commissioners, Loar has scheduled two meetings this month — on Wednesday and again April 23 — to take his proposals to residents and hear their suggestions. “Imagine how dangerous it is to have the Taxpayers’ Association come by and say to cut this, this and this (in public),” he said. “But if you want to be transparent, that’s the gamble you have to take.” Loar didn’t have his proposal ready for public release this week, but said he would by April 15. Recessions typically bring an increase in economic crimes, he said, as otherwise law-abiding residents, once laid off, become desperate. Sheriff’s records point to an 18 percent increase in such crimes as shoplifting, forging checks and identity theft, from 832 in 2007 to 981 in 2008. And so far in 2009, Loar’s staff already has rung up 251 economic crimes. He contrasted that with Baird’s call for a 12.3 percent budget cut, or $5.3 million from the current $43.6 million budget. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think