Sheriff lists jobs on chopping block
TRAVERSE CITY -- 7&4 News has been telling you about massive budget cuts coming to Grand Traverse County, Wednesday we learned more about what’s at stake and how it will impact the community.
Grand Traverse County Officials plan to reduce the 2011 budget by $2.6 million dollars. All departments have been asked to make significant cuts, but the hardest hit could be the department that keeps the streets safe. Sheriff Tom Bensley and Undersheriff Nate Alger have turned in a proposed plan to county officials. The plan highlights where exactly one million dollars in eliminations from their department will come from. Sheriff Bensley says they can’t cut operating costs, so that means largest cuts will need to be made in personnel.
The sheriff listed four deputies that would be laid off if the plan is passed by the county. The highest paid on that list is Deputy Kipp Needham. You may remember Needham is currently suspended pending court procedures for resisting arrest, possession of a gun while drunk, and domestic violence. He makes close to $133,000 in salary and benefits. Six corrections officers would also be laid off.
Those layoffs could mean responding to less, or no civil disputes, parking lot crashes, court home visits, and not in progress calls. A decrease in personnel also would mean the investigations divisions would have less time to investigate property and financial crimes. The sheriff will present the impact the cuts will have to the department to county commissioners in a few weeks.
Sheriff Bensley says, "'The county does have some money that they set aside to put back into budget as an as needed basis and we would hope that a large share will be coming to sheriff's office."
Last year the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s office handled 23,298 complaints. Sheriff’s officials fear less personnel and added work could lead to burn out within the force. County commissioners will make their final budget decisions by October.
