Sheriff could feel the pinch
March 12, 2010 by Bryan Rothamel · View Comments
PALMYRA — The Fluvanna Sheriff’s Department might be seeing more difficult time without the proposed 10 percent rise in the real estate tax rate.
“We can go back and be a ‘Mayberry’ law enforecment or we can be a professional law enforcement,” Sheriff Ryant Washington told the Board of Supervisors during the March 3 budget work session.
Washington is asking for $2,258,849 which includes a $65,000 increase from fiscal year 2010.
With the increased tax rate to $.55 per $100 assessed, the Sheriff’s Office would only be $10,000 short from the requested amount.
About $1.9 million of the public safety budget is for personnel costs. The office works with 27 sworn deputies and according to an outside source assessement, Washington needs another seven.
“We’re doing what we are doing to get by,” Washington said.
Earlier this year Washington was asked to prepare a budget 10 percent less than he requested. To do that, Washington would have to eliminate all bailiffs, four full-time deputies and not include return stamps for jury duty letters.
“There’s not a lot of money to move around,” Washington noted how his office runs more lean than neighboring counties.
Powahatan and Goochland run $1-2 million more in budget plus have a larger deputy force. While Powhatan has more population, Goochland does not but has 13 more square miles to patrol.
Fluvanna’s Sheriff Office also hasn’t had capital improvements for patrol cars in the last three years. The cars are not designed for extended use due to the type of wear that is put on them.
Washington told the supervisors that the body of the cars have kept well but the motor parts aren’t doing as well.
Washington said, “Looks like a book. The cover looks good but open it up and it might be the worst book you’ve ever read.”
The next budget work session for the Board of Supervisors is March 17 in Central Elementary Auditorium. The meeting will also feature the education budget reconciliation.
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Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series where Fluco Blog will look how the Sheriff’s office works and operates. The final part will include a ride-along senior writer Bryan Rothamel will perform the night of March 12.
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