Roseburg, Ore (KMTR) Officials say it isn’t pretty, Douglas County is now plotting out it’s 2012 budget, bracing for the end of federal safety net payments.
For the last two days, department heads have been requested to present two budgets to the Budget Committee. One with 10% cut from their projected budget, and a second with a 15% percent cut.
Among the hardest hit is the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. They’re already facing a lack of funding to the tune of a half million dollars stemming from the elimination of Oregon Parole and Probation payments.
With the P & P cuts, they’ll likely have to close jail beds, and eliminate eight corrections positions; five that are currently filled, and three that are vacant anyway.
The Sheriff's Office presented their theoretical budgets Monday.
If DCSO has to cut 10%, they would eliminate an additional five positions; two that are already vacant in patrol and records, one in corrections and two in patrol. In addition to the existing P & P cuts, that would result in 13 jobs lost.
Under a 15% cut, two additional positions would have to go; one in corrections and one in patrol. Under that worst case scenario, 15 jobs would be eliminated altogether.
The 10% and 15% plans are only drafts for the time being. The Budget Committee will decide who will have to cut what, when they know for sure if the safety net payments will not be extended.
