U.C. Sheriff: Budget cuts threaten public safety
Budget woes » Sheriff Jim Tracy has already trimmed his budget as much as he can.
By Donald W. Meyers



Updated: 11/18/2009 04:29:19 PM MST


Provo » Utah County Sheriff Jim Tracy said his department -- and the people who count on it -- cannot afford another round of budget cuts.

The sheriff commented Tuesday as Utah County approved its $77.3 million budget -- including about $2.6 million in cuts -- about one month ahead of schedule on Tuesday.

Tracy, who has delayed buying patrol vehicles, training and overtime, as well as having 12 positions go empty in order to help balance the 2010 budget, said there is little left to trim from his department if the county revenues don't improve.

"Public safety would be extremely compromised to the point where it would not be adequate," Tracy said.

Tracy almost had to cut a dozen deputies from his department to make his budget balance, but was able to shift some money around to save jobs.

Plus, he's banking on at least $2.9 million from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for holding illegal immigrants in the Utah County Jail. He said the number could be as high as $4 million if he averages more than 150 immigration holds a day.

The 2009 budget represents a $2.6 million reduction from the 2009 budget-- mostly because of a recession-fueled slump in sales tax revenue. And that, Tracy said, is why the county must find more stable sources of funding for the county.

But Commissioner Steve White said that is not possible.

"I don't think anybody sees us going back to property tax," White said. Nor would adjusting taxes for inflation fly well with taxpayers, who could see their tax bills double in less than 20 years if the county pursued that course of action.

Commission Chairman Larry Ellertson said the county took a different approach in assembling the 2010 spending package. Instead of soliciting departments' budget requests, the commissioners told department heads how much money was available, and directed them to adjust their "wish lists" accordingly.

Clerk-Auditor Bryan Thompson said the budget process went smoothly this year, even with the budget cutting.

White noted that this was the first time in years that the commission had the budget out of the way before Thanksgiving.

But Ellertson said nobody should drop their guard because the budget's in place.

"Don't pull the dams out of the ditch," Ellertson warned. "We need to conserve everything we can."



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