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| Sheriff's office cuts OK'd |
| By Christian Hill |
| Published: 04/29/2009 |
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Sheriff’s office cuts Ok’d Thurston County commissioners formally approved layoffs in the sheriff’s office on Tuesday, an action that could draw union challenges and was characterized by Sheriff Dan Kimball as “fraught with peril.” Two weeks ago, the commission approved a midyear budget amendment in its chief operating fund to account for declining tax revenues. On Tuesday, commissioners adjusted the position-control schedule that matches those budget dollars with jobs. The adjustment will eliminate 30 positions and cut hours for six positions from several departments, effective June 1. In the sheriff’s office, the last day of work will be May 31 for two legal assistants, a corrections captain and four commissioned jail staffers. The jobs of five other commissioned operations staffers are on the chopping block but could be saved. Commissioners also are taking steps to cut the salaries of four of the top managers in the sheriff’s office. “I think this is the best solution we can come up with,” Commissioner Cathy Wolfe said. Wolfe and Commissioner Karen Valenzuela approved the reductions. Commissioner Sandra Romero was absent. Tuesday’s action was the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the county commissioners and the sheriff over budget reductions. In the midst of a budget crisis, commissioners say they need to take all necessary steps to save as many patrol deputies as possible to protect public safety. Kimball maintains that the commissioners have overstepped their authority in telling an independently elected official how to run his office. He has said the commissioners’ action against his office is retaliation after he spoke out to the public about his own concerns about the scale of the budget cuts. Wolfe, the board’s chairwoman, has denied that claim. In amending the budget, commissioners took the rare step of issuing a proviso, or condition, that Kimball cut his command staff by a certain dollar amount to preserve as many deputies as possible. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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