Sheriff: Budget cuts could mean 'open door to criminals'
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. - A local sheriff is sending out a warning Friday that budget cuts in Kitsap County could mean fewer deputies protecting the populace there.
Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer says the heat is on to find more than $1 million to cut from his budget.
"I don't want to cry wolf, but I think it's important in my role to sound the alarm," he says.
The county comissioners asked every department to draw up a budget cutting 7 percent and another cutting 9 percent.
Even at the lower rate - that would take 16 deputies off the street and nine out of the jail, Boyer says.
"Losing up to 30 people - that's going to hurt."
The sheriff told KOMO News their response times are already almost a minute longer after cuts that were made two years ago.
Now there are times when the people of unincorporated Kitsap County have as few as nine deputies patrolling more than 200 square miles.
Another reality is that 100 inmates likely would be released from the Kitsap County jail - and back out on the streets.
"Word gets around," Boyer says. "Do you want to have the people in Kitsap County ... knowing that there's an open door to criminals?"
Sheriff Boyer says his department has been working to save money where it can.
They save $500,000 every year, using trusties and a private contractor for food service in the jail. And the county contracts out its medical and mental health services for inmates.
"You know, we realize we're spending taxpayer's money, and we try to do it in a way that's most cost-effective," says Stephen Goldberg of Conmed Healthcare Management.
"We may have to completely reinvent the way we do business - that's a good thing," Sheriff Boyer says.
The county is still in the beginning stages of its budget process, and the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners is holding weekly meetings about the budget.
Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer says the heat is on to find more than $1 million to cut from his budget.
"I don't want to cry wolf, but I think it's important in my role to sound the alarm," he says.
The county comissioners asked every department to draw up a budget cutting 7 percent and another cutting 9 percent.
Even at the lower rate - that would take 16 deputies off the street and nine out of the jail, Boyer says.
"Losing up to 30 people - that's going to hurt."
The sheriff told KOMO News their response times are already almost a minute longer after cuts that were made two years ago.
Now there are times when the people of unincorporated Kitsap County have as few as nine deputies patrolling more than 200 square miles.
Another reality is that 100 inmates likely would be released from the Kitsap County jail - and back out on the streets.
"Word gets around," Boyer says. "Do you want to have the people in Kitsap County ... knowing that there's an open door to criminals?"
Sheriff Boyer says his department has been working to save money where it can.
They save $500,000 every year, using trusties and a private contractor for food service in the jail. And the county contracts out its medical and mental health services for inmates.
"You know, we realize we're spending taxpayer's money, and we try to do it in a way that's most cost-effective," says Stephen Goldberg of Conmed Healthcare Management.
"We may have to completely reinvent the way we do business - that's a good thing," Sheriff Boyer says.
The county is still in the beginning stages of its budget process, and the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners is holding weekly meetings about the budget.