The San Benito County Board of Supervisors eliminated nearly
$800,000 and sent layoff notices to seven employees from the
sheriff’s office last week in a special supervisors meeting.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors eliminated nearly $800,000 and sent layoff notices to seven employees from the sheriff’s office last week in a special supervisors meeting.
The board agreed to eliminate the operations lieutenant position, three deputies and two jail correctional officers in a cost-savings move. It is the second time this year the board eliminated positions from the jail. In March, the board eliminated two correctional officers and a program manager.
The second cuts were more intrusive, shortening the sheriff’s office’s ability to fully staff its patrols, Sheriff Darren Thompson said on Friday. Once the cuts take effect Aug. 12, the office will be able to have just two deputies and one sergeant on duty at a time.
“It will make our job more difficult,” he said.
Also the loss of a lieutenant, Roy Iler, who will be moved to the deputy ranks, will force the sheriff and his five sergeants to take up the position’s responsibilities, he said.
“It will add more to our workload,” he acknowledged.
The changes also include the transfer of a jail maintenance worker and the layoff of an office secretary. In total, the cuts will save the county $238,000 at the jail and $552,000 within the sheriff’s office.
The board was able to choose from three cost-savings options that included laying off more deputies and part-time positions. In total, the option they chose – Option A – was the least intrusive.
Regardless, the cuts will be felt.
“This is a significant loss,” Thompson said.
The cuts are all to essential positions and the loss will affect the daily operation of the department, Thompson said.
“I told the board, we are not cutting fat here,” he said. “We are cutting essential personnel here.”
