WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Sandusky County sheriff pondering budget cuts
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By Dick Berry - email
Posted by Kate Oatis - email
SANDUSKY COUNTY (WTOL) - There are tough decisions ahead at the Sandusky County Sheriff's Department.
Commissioners have ordered Sheriff Kyle Overmyer to slash $140,000 out of his $4 million budget, which isn't sitting easy with the sheriff.
"At this point, I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on and do some serious thinking," Overmyer said.
Commissioners want Overmyer to make cuts in jail operations, administration and communications. But the most controversial reduction comes in the $46,000 cut road patrol.
It's controversial because right now, on any given shift, there are two to three road patrols that cover 420 square miles. Apparently, they have a good reputation among residents.
In fact, the reason Matt Kohler doesn't want the budget cuts to affect the road patrol is that earlier this year, his elderly parents were attacked in a home invasion and road patrol showed up immediately and eventually caught the suspects.
"Everybody is looking to trim the fat out of their budget. Given the necessity of that road patrol to the county residents, I would encourage them to look at other areas of the budget before making any serious cuts in that road patrol budget," Kohler said.
Overmyer says he's already done plenty of belt-tightening. Just last year, he trimmed $275,000 out of his budget by laying off three officers, two corrections officers and a dispatcher.
He even saved on jail food by using different suppliers, changing the menu and setting up a jail garden program.
"But at this point, I don't see any other areas I could trim," Overmyer said.
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