Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger spoke to members of the media during a press conference on Monday, Dec. 20 to discuss and answer any questions concerning the 2005 budget cuts and prisoner releases.
GEORGETOWN – While residents learned of staff reductions and budget shortfalls in the Sheriff's office on Monday, Brown County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Alan Corbin and Prosecutor Tom Grennan had to begin preparing to release convicted felons from jail.
It was not something Judge Corbin was prepared to do.
"I think that it's imperative that we be able to put felons in jail or prison if and when necessary," said Corbin. "I have an interest in seeing that our felons are incarcerated."
Corbin said that if he is forced to make decisions of who will be released, it will be a difficult one that he and Prosecutor Tom Grennan will have to look at together.
"We shouldn't have to allow felons to be freed like this," said Corbin.
Because of budget cuts, the Brown County Sheriff's Department will only hold 20 inmates daily. This is a major reduction from 2004's average of 65 and will force the courts to make some hard decisions.
During a press conference held Monday, Dec. 20, Brown County Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger expressed his concern and disappointment. Sixteen people in Wenninger's department as of Jan. 2, 2005 will no longer have a job. Wenninger received notice of his 2005 budget from the Commissioners on Dec. 8. Local media as well as Cincinnati television crews came to hear explanations of the cuts.
The 2005 budget for the Sheriff's department is $1,939,096.64. It is a decrease from 2004 by $113,239.36. This is approximately a 5.5 percent decrease in the Sheriff's budget.
The Commissioners said that the new budget has cuts across every department. The Commissioners said that "each elected official was given the total amount of their budget. The official makes the decision as to which cuts can be made in their department. It is the responsibility of the elected official to stay within their respective budget."
Wenninger knew he was going to have to make cuts.
"I anticipated some cutbacks early in the year, so as people left, we did not replace six employees. Three of which were supervision and as of Jan. 2, we are going to be laying off an additional 10 people. Thus bringing the total number of personnel lost up to 16," said Wenninger.
One administrator, one cook, nine corrections officers, one road deputy and one court services position have all been eliminated as of Jan. 2.
"We have to reduce the road patrol to one car per 12 hour shift. We have to cut our investigation department from four to one investigator and our K-9 unit, which is known all across Ohio will be reduced down from four to one K-9 officer," said Wenninger.
Employees were notified of their layoff on Thursday, Dec. 16 by Wenninger.
The Sheriff's office took the hardest hit because it has the largest part of the county's expenses. The office uses around 40 percent out of the general fund. Wenninger said that he has more operations money than all other departments put together.
The Commissioners office approved the 2005 budget on Dec. 17. The Commissioners cut $730,000 from the previous budget.
Cuts were necessary because the county's revenue has declined slightly and the cost of doing the county's business continues to increase.
According to the Commissioners, the Sheriff's budget has risen over $500,000 for the last four years. The Sheriff's budget has been given supplemental appropriations (money) during the past four years. The past two years, these supplementals have totaled $220,000. A big factor in the increasing costs of the Sheriff's department are wage increases.
"I will work with what I have and do the best job I can, but it's going to play a dramatic role because everything I've worked on the past four years – the reputation I've built – can be taken away in a minute," said Wenninger.
Wenninger said that in order to cover the loss of coverage in the jail division and courts, the road patrol will only handle emergency calls. All traffic accidents will be handled by the State Highway Patrol.
All residents will now have to come to the Sheriff's office to fill out reports due to the drastic cuts. There will be guidelines available for anyone interested.
"I hope it doesn't come to people feeling the need to protect themselves," said Wenninger. "We have villages that are willing to help."
Brown County is the second largest county in Ohio covering 496 square miles. There are more than 43,000 residents.
"The biggest fear I have is for people's safety. I'm here to protect the peace and the services of Brown County. When you starting having to reduce the number of felons . . . turning (them) back out on the street it's going to be like a domino effect and I'm afraid of it getting worse," said Wenninger.
The Sheriff's office has been instructed by the County Commissioners to include the county's cost of retirement benefits (PERS) and unemployment compensation for all of its employees in the Sheriff's budget. This has never been included in the Sheriff's budget before and will add an additional cost of $275,000 to the 2005 Sheriff's budget. The total decrease in the funds for the department will be $388,239.36 for 2005, approximately an 18.5 percent decrease..
"We pay a lot more toward PERS retirement than any other agency, so when you take that out of the payroll, that drastically cuts your staff. Then, when you lay one person off I have to pay for the unemployment out of the next person," said Wenninger.
The commissioners have also told Wenninger that they and the Fraternal Order of Police are currently in labor negotiation for 2005.
"While other county employees have received modest increases of 30 cents per hour each of the last three years, the Sheriff's bargaining unit has received 65 cents per hour in 2003."
"I was informed by the Commissioners that they are under an FOP contract and currently under wage negotiations right now and any rate that they get will also be taken out of my budget," said Wenninger. "This could create over a $400,000 decrease from the 2004 budget to the 2005 budget."
Wenninger said that the staff morale is down. He said that they have been working really hard over the past four years and it's a sad day having to put Brown County back 10-15 years behind times.
"I work for the people of Brown County. I'm elected by those people. Brown County residents need to know what's going on and what's going to happen, not wait until they are left wondering why a deputy hasn't responded to their house," said Wenninger. "Stand with me. Stand strong. I'll do the best job I can."
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