MAYVILLE – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace was making the case Wednesday for funding in the 2018 county budget that lawmakers are considering cutting.
During Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee Meeting, Gerace provided information on shifts and time-off slots at the Chautauqua County Jail in an effort to illustrate who it’s important the county maintain the amount of overtime funding that was initially included in county executive Vince Horrigan’s proposed budget. During budget deliberations earlier this month, lawmakers recommended cutting $50,000 to overtime in the Sheriff’s Office as part of its effort an effort to rein in spending.
In addition, the Sheriff’s office also faces tentative cuts to the deputy sheriff’s road patrol and a decrease in food expenses at the jail. The total suggested decrease for the office equals $218,000.
Chautauqua County Public Defender Ned Barone was also on hand to discuss the proposed cutting of one assistant public defender in next year’s tentative budget. Following the conversation with Barone, the committee voted to restore funding for his office.
The county budget will be further discussed and finalized during the legislature’s meeting next Wednesday night in Mayville.
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