Minutes 06-08-2021 Virtual Bussiness meeting

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6 Commissioner McKee said he saw no way that a 5% cut could avoid impacting the programs at the Sheriff's department. Sheriff Blackwood said that was right. He said there are issues that have not been talked about, and his office does not have enough personnel, storage space, etc. He said he cannot stop the BOCC, and he has to work with the budget he is given. Commissioner McKee said it would affect jail staff, law enforcement officers, and diversion programs that the Board has put in place. Sheriff Blackwood said they have to take into account fuel, overtime, responding to calls, etc. He said it will hurt his office. Commissioner McKee said there is a nationwide effort to cut back on law enforcement, and it is not paying dividends. He said he does not support the amendment. Commissioner Dorosin said the Sheriff makes a compelling case for his office. He said it is not a department, but it is funded like every other department in the County. He said this amendment is not a punishment, and almost every department is making this cut, on operations, not on personnel. He said it is not accurate to lump the Sheriff's Office in with Health, Social Services, Aging, etc. and to characterize this as a punishment is not accurate. He said every other department making these cuts is not being punished, but rather it is recognition of the critical position the County is in. He said, in the interest of fairness, the other departments that have been exempted are different. He said this is a measure that needs to be taken at this time, and it is reasonable to do so. He said any department head would make a similarly impassioned argument, but nonetheless, these are critical times. He said the BOCC needs to look closely at all spending, including this office. Chair Price said she sees Public Safety as an essential service. She said she would like to pull away from thinking just about the policing aspect, as some neighborhoods are over- policed, but the Sheriff's Office works with Housing, social services, etc. in crisis intervention. She said when there is an eviction, domestic violence, or other such crises, the Sheriff's officers are there. She asked if the office just brought on two new people to work with mental health. Sheriff Blackwood said he has a Mental Health task force, which has some additional needs. He said questions remain on how this will be funded. Sheriff Blackwood said his office is a part of public safety, as set out by the budget guidelines of the County Manager. Chair Price said there are a lot of things the Sheriff's Office does that would be jeopardized by a cut, and this office is among the first responders. Commissioner McKee disagreed that the Sheriff's office is different than public safety. He said the Sheriff's office is put in special situations, including rescue, emergency services, health, welfare, etc. He said the County has made strides through the Sheriff's department to look at alternative ways to serve the community, and he cannot support the amendment. A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin to approve the amendment to reduce the Sheriff's budget by 5% for the FY 2021-22 fiscal year. Motion failed for lack of a second. Chair Price read the amendment to eliminate funding for the Piedmont Wildlife Center afterschool program. A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford to approve eliminate funding to Piedmont Wildlife Center for the after school program. Motion failed for lack of a second.