Dec. 20--FOLEY -- Benton County will lay off three sheriff's deputies to make up for a lost contract to provide police protection for the city of Foley.
County commissioners voted 4-1 today to eliminate the three positions. The move is expected to save an estimated $260,000 annually, including salaries, benefits and equipment costs.
The action was taken after the county and city failed to agree on a law enforcement contract for 2012. Instead, Foley officials approved a contract with a private security firm to patrol the city's streets.
Reached by phone after the meeting, Sheriff Brad Bennett expressed disappointment over the board's decision. He had proposed eliminating court security staff and a vacant detention officer position and other cuts to save about $220,000.
But county commissioners decided that wouldn't provide enough long-term savings. They wanted to eliminate the three deputy positions that were added in 2003 when the county began providing police protection for Foley.
With 27 licensed officers including himself, Bennett said he doesn't have a large department. The cuts will mean fewer deputies on the road and probably will increase response times, he said.
"It's going to stretch us real thin, I think," Bennett said.
By law, Benton County will still need to provide some basic law enforcement services to Foley and respond to emergencies. Bennett said he'd hoped to keep at least one of the three deputies to provide some cushion, noting that he's cut his budget by about $400,000 since the economic downturn.
The county board also set the final 2012 levy at $19.9 million, about $100,000 less than this year. It's the third year in a row that Benton County has not increased its property tax levy.
The county is expected to spend about $36.8 million next year. The 2012 budget does not contain any funding for new positions.
Benton County has eliminated 18 full-time and two part-time positions since it adopted a hiring freeze in 2008. Like other counties, it's been coping with declining state aid and stagnant economic growth, while seeing demand for services increasing due to the economic downturn.
The county board also set 2012 salaries for its four elected officials that include a half-percent raise on Jan. 1 and another half-percent on July 1. It's the same increase other county employees are receiving.
County Attorney Robert Raupp will earn $102,586; Auditor-Treasurer Karri Thorsten, $80,601; Recorder Marilyn Novak, $63,198; and Sheriff Bennett, $94,109.
Commissioners will earn $27,181, the same as this year. They also earn a $55 per diem for attending meetings.
Commissioner Jim McMahon was the lone opposing vote on the levy and layoffs. McMahon, a former Benton County sheriff, said he thought the levy should stay the same as 2011 and Bennett should be able to decide how to make the budget cuts.
Copyright 2011 - St. Cloud Times, Minn.
