The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office substation at the
Windmill Shopping center closed Thursday, and one of its two
deputies was reassigned out of town.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office substation at the Windmill Shopping center closed Thursday, and one of its two deputies was reassigned out of town.
San Juan Mayor George Dias said the town simply did not have enough money to pay the $400 per month rent on the sheriff’s station and the $112,000 per year salary and benefit cost of a sheriff’s deputy.
“I could see the belt getting tighter and we had to make some serious cuts,” Dias said. “It’s a very unfortunate cut, but I’m open to any way of getting the deputy back.”
Dias said he spoke Thursday with San Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho about working out a way to share the cost of the deputy between San Juan and the county.
Botelho confirmed Dias’ sentiment, saying he would support San Benito County paying for half of the deputy’s $112,000 cost in salary, benefits, equipment and training.
“With one deputy working, when he’s not on, San Juan would be dependent on someone in Hollister,” Botelho said. “It’s very important to keep that sheriff’s station open. I’m confident we can find a way to make this work.”
Sheriff Curtis Hill said the move was “strictly economic” and that San Juan would still have a deputy assigned to it who would work out of the Hollister office. Hill said he knew San Juan was in dire financial straights, but while he was “always open for dialogue,” he did not believe the county should pick up the slack.
“San Juan is getting the same amount of service – they’re just not paying as much anymore,” Hill said. “You can only come to the county so much. If you want something, you have to pay for it.”
