Budget cuts raise safety questions

Serious public-safety issues, including the release of hundreds of prisoners, reductions in sworn law enforcement officers and a critically depleted district attorney's office, could be in the offing if Salt Lake County enacts the 2010 budget cuts now being assessed by the County Council.

A litany of woe was delivered to the council Tuesday by independent elected officials who have been asked to consider two levels of cuts next year — one at 5 percent less than their 2009 budgets and another at 7.5 percent under this year's mark.

The reductions come on the heels of a 2009 budget year that is already about $10 million below 2008's operating costs and has seen an additional $20 million in interim cuts. Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder called the new round of downsizing "truly Draconian."

"There's significant concern over the direction we appear to be heading," Winder said. "Last year, the sheriff's office cut 40 full-time employees, civilianized 26 positions, and we're currently running at 12 deputies below our allocated levels."

Those cuts, Winder said, have left his department without further fat to trim, and additional reductions would have significant impacts on public safety.

Hitting the 5 percent mark, a $4.25 million cut, would require either the closing of the freshly re-opened Oxbow Jail or the elimination of 31 additional full-time positions, including sworn law enforcement officers, he said. At the deeper 7.5 percent cut, roughly $7 million, Winder said his office could be looking at closing Oxbow and shutting down a pod at the Metro jail — a move that could put 300 to 500 prisoners on the streets.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller told the County Council that the cuts being considered for her area of the justice system would put further strain on an already overcrowded jail system and slow the resolution of cases.

"We have cut back our operations to the bare minimum," Miller said. "The cuts that you're requesting are going to equate to about $1.6 million … To meet that figure, I would have to cut all of our civil and litigation attorneys — about 21 attorneys."

Program cuts, lost personnel and reduction of services was a virtual mantra from elected officials who made presentations to the council Tuesday, including the treasurer, auditor, assessor, county clerk, surveyor and recorder.