Augusta County Sheriff’s Office readies for cuts
Twelve deputies could be pulled from the streets under proposed state budget cuts, Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher said Monday.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s latest budget plan would slash $430,000, the equivalent of the total annual pay for about a dozen deputies, a year after the Sheriff’s Office cut spending by more than $200,000, Fisher said.
“I know what Kaine has proposed and it’s very bleak for us,” Fisher said. “I have nothing left to cut but salaries.”
The Sheriff’s Office currently employs one deputy for every 1,500 residents, Fisher said. If he eliminates a dozen deputies from the payroll, the ratio would change to one for every 2,000, similar to the numbers in the 1970s and 1980s, he said.
The budget already has been whittled to bone, the sheriff said, citing cuts in spending on uniforms, vehicles and equipment.
Augusta is not alone, said John W. Jones, of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association.
The governor’s plan calls for cuts of more than $164 million for sheriff’s offices statewide over two years, Jones said. The Sheriff’s Association, a 76-year-old organization, plans to lobby the General Assembly on behalf of sheriff’s departments, he said.
“These cuts are incredibly draconian,” Jones said. “It’s not like you get to choose. You can’t cut paper clips. They’ve already been cut.”
If the lobbying effort fails, Fisher said, the differences will be noticeable.
“Basically, the citizens of the commonwealth and of Augusta County are going to see less deputies on the street,” he said. “There are going to be fewer of us to answer calls and response times will increase.
“It is what it is. You’re taking your work force and cutting it by 20 percent is what you’re doing.”
The Staunton and Waynesboro police departments also experienced budget setbacks, though not as severe as the Sheriff’s Office, Staunton police Chief Jim Williams said.
“It’s not as alarming for cities but it’s not good news for any of us,” he said. “And there’ve been a lot of things that have either dried up or it’s less money than we’re used to getting.”
The Staunton Police Department avoided eliminating jobs, opting instead to freeze several positions as they became vacant, he said.
State spending on city law enforcement agencies decreased across the board after a series of revisions, Williams said.
Almost $70,000 has been cut from Waynesboro’s fund and $82,000 from Staunton’s, according to a state Grants Administration memo released Dec. 28.
Waynesboro police Chief Doug Davis said he cut about $50,000 from his department’s budget, and plans to cut more.
“We were just looking at everything,” Davis said. “Nothing is too small to look at.”
Davis said he cut overtime hours and spending on equipment and new officer training.
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Reader Reactions
1 in 10 Augusta County residents work for the Govt?
What is your source for this information?
The bottom line is that no country can afford a government where one in ten of its people work for government and that does not include contractors. Yes even the police have to learn to prioritize and budget.
Most liberals/socialist tend to pick and choose those natural rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Libs are all for the first, not the second.
But this budget submitted by Kaine is another typical liberal ploy. Threaten to cut public safety to scare the public, then go for higher taxes.
Remember our newest Senator who said we were going broke unless we raised our sales tax to 5%. As soon as it passed, money was miraculously found. We weren’t going broke ofter all. The tax did not decrease.
Hey Left, If anyone is a racist it is you. You seem to be the only one using race related comments such as PIMP, THUG, and KOOL-AiD. I am all for Government which you say you were fighting for in the NAVY. I also work in LAW ENFORCEMENT and don not want to members of the LAW ENFORCEMENT community lose there jobs. No I do not have a Shrine to Pres. Obama, I did vote for him and I think he has made mistakes, So has every other President we ever had. It does not mean I do not support him. Also shoot first then call 911 thats great WILD WEST DAYS. I am all for defending ones home. I do it with a Louisville slugger though it takes a REAL MAN to fight with with out a GUN. I have nothing against owning GUNS I myself own guns and have no problem wit hany gun reform laws which would require me to register or limit the number of GUNS my LAW ABIDING LIBERAL AMERICAN self. So go ahead and respond with some more BOORTZ/BECK/LIMBAUGH IGNORANCE it is your First amendment Right.
Left, if you are struggling to pay your bills, (taxes), I can do a fund raiser for you and or your family. And I can get some funds from my church to help. We liberals believe in helping others. Help is available.
Leftist, it is amazing that you think it is simple economics. This means 12 less LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS to protect us. If your house is getting robbed and they are stealing your shrine to Rush Limbaugh, who are you going to call?? Financial cuts should be made where the safety and security of the citizens is not infringed. Now that means 12 more people looking for jobs who will be unable to pay there bills and possible forclosure or eviction kids going hungry, no medical insurance. But its SIMPLE economics. Also as a retired Navy man as your self you should have respect for your Comander in Chief I thought thats what was taught at boot camp??? Raise Taxes on non essential and luxury items to pay for PROTECTION. I will vote YES to that!!!
Hey leftist, would be willing to do away with All taxes?
You read one week that the state goes out and burns 9 million dollars buying land for a new state park, and then the next day they talk about having no money and cutting 12(!) deputies. This is ridiculous. If I ran my finances like that then it would be ridiculous. It’s akin to me spending money on the movie theater, but then having to have my power shut off. This kind of garbage just angers me. Any idiot knows that a budget is done from the top down. Prioritize what is necessary… if we have to forego having a state park to be safer in our neighborhoods, then I’m all for it.
The primary purpose of government is to protect the people. We pay money for state parks and other garbage while forgetting the most important part.
Well, one thing is for certain, Governor Kaine has done exactly what the people wanted him to do and that is no tax increases and cut government spending. I hope that the conservatives and Repubs are happy.
Correction RTW Right to Work Law or the UNION killer Law.
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