Kent County Sheriff controls his budget, not board GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Kent County's Sheriff is elected by the people and has sole authority over what should be in his department's budget. The Kent County Commission issued that statement today as they continue to look for ways to cut costs county-wide. 11 jail workers are particularly concerned about the proposed cuts and plans to privatize jail food service, eliminating their jobs. Unionized workers today attended a budget work session where they heard county commissioners say that Sheriff Larry Stelma, not commissioners, has the final say in what to trim in the sheriff's department. "They have some autonomy - answerable to the public, but not answerable directly to us" said commissioner Harold Vorhees, (R) Wyoming. Commissioners also received a list of "take home" cars, owned by the county, but driven by 48 sheriff's department employees. Vorhees, who met recently with Stelma, said the sheriff will not discuss the car assignments, since they could jeopardize the department's operational safety and security. Stelma was told earlier to cut $2.5 million from his budget. In all, he proposes eliminating 33 positions. Further public input on the budget will come at the next full county board meeting Thursday morning. Final adoption of the budget is set for December 10.
11/3/2009 8:46:56 PM