Arpaio deals with multi-million dollar budget cuts
Reported by: Corey Rangel
Email: crangel@abc15.com
Last Update: 5/16 6:59 pm

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Sheriff Joe Arpaio is facing some deep budget cuts that will force him to change things at the sheriff's office.

Maricopa County budget officials plan to cut $4 million dollars from Arpaio's requested budget for fiscal 2009.

Governor Janet Napolitano stripped Arpaio of an additional $1.6 million in state funding used to pay for many of the sheriff's immigration-related operations.

Despite the cuts, Arpaio vows to continue with his immigration sweeps.

"The crime suppression operations have been very successful not just picking up illegal aliens but we cleared 50 warrants in a few hours," said Arpaio.

The sheriff hopes to save money by cutting back on services he provides to other agencies, reorganizing positions within the sheriff's office, and relying more on his volunteer posse members.

"When I talk about the posse, I talk about helping supplement deputies when we're out on an operation."

Arpaio is even taking donations. He said his office has received calls from people around Arizona and other states wanting to give money. Reportedly, one group in California representing 10,000 people want to donate. It's not known how much.

"It's very sad to have people call but we're going to accept the money and it will help somewhat."

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