ELLSBERRY, MO ( KPLR ) -
County commissioners want the Sheriff to slash his budget by at least 20%.
Sheriff Mike Krigbaum's called a town-hall meeting at Elsberry High School to outline possible cuts, including, the immediate closure shut down the county jail. The layoffs of 40 of the 94 sheriff's department workers, including deputies plus, the elimination of the department's entire patrol division. The reason is because the county is hurting for money.
Tax revenues are down. Sales taxes are off nearly 10%. There's fear of non-payment of property taxes will rise with cash-strapped residents unable to pay by the time their due December 31st and there's no state aid or bail-out planned.
County commissioners wanted the Sheriff to make cuts this year, after they had already approved the $5.4 million dollar budget.
The Sheriff filed a suit to force commissioners to honor that budget and keep the Sheriff's department open. That won't be an option in the coming year. If commissioners call for even steeper cuts in 2010, the Sheriff fears the entire department will close.
Sheriff Mike Krigbaum's called a town-hall meeting at Elsberry High School to outline possible cuts, including, the immediate closure shut down the county jail. The layoffs of 40 of the 94 sheriff's department workers, including deputies plus, the elimination of the department's entire patrol division. The reason is because the county is hurting for money.
Tax revenues are down. Sales taxes are off nearly 10%. There's fear of non-payment of property taxes will rise with cash-strapped residents unable to pay by the time their due December 31st and there's no state aid or bail-out planned.
County commissioners wanted the Sheriff to make cuts this year, after they had already approved the $5.4 million dollar budget.
The Sheriff filed a suit to force commissioners to honor that budget and keep the Sheriff's department open. That won't be an option in the coming year. If commissioners call for even steeper cuts in 2010, the Sheriff fears the entire department will close.
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