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Like other localities, King George officials face money shortfalls on all fronts Date published: 10/8/2009
By CATHY DYSON Money was the main topic of discussion among King George County's supervisors Tuesday night--as in, more is needed, but nobody's got it. That's the message the board gave Sheriff Moose Dobson when he asked for more deputies. The supervisors funded two new positions 3 years ago and promised two more the next year. Then revenues fell off, and the positions never came. Dobson realized he had a slim chance of getting them at this time. "I probably couldn't have picked a worse time to make a request," he told the board, "but I would be derelict if I didn't tell you about my needs." The Sheriff's Office handles about 100 calls a day, and three detectives are investigating 116 cases, he said. Dobson pulled a deputy off patrol to help with the investigations, but the move means there are fewer officers on the street and less revenue generated from tickets. "That's the pickle I find myself in," Dobson said. Board members asked the sheriff to keep them informed, but also to continue searching for ways to trim his budget. State legislators had the same message. "If you're looking for extra money, my best advice is to check under seat cushions and couches," Del. Albert Pollard told the supervisors Tuesday. He and Sen. Richard Stuart, along with Eldon James from the Virginia Association of Counties, thanked King George officials for their financial prudence with finances--and warned that more would be needed. "It's going to be tough," Stuart said. "There's no point in saying anything else. Revenues are down, and they're not going to be turned around that fast." Last month, the state cut $1.35 billion from localities' budgets. Funds for sheriff's departments were reduced by 4.7 percent. In King George, those cuts totaled more than half a million dollars. That's coupled with less from local revenues, which are down 21 percent, said Supervisor James Howard. He asked the legislators to stop passing mandates that localities have to meet without providing the money to finance them. "We know we're not getting any more money," he said. "By the same token, we can't accept any more mandates." The supervisors already have started talking about next year's budget. They met Monday to start developing a plan to deal with expected shortfalls. Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Date published: 10/8/2009
The KG school board is always pleading poverty but they had $1.3 million unspent from their budget last June 30. All they do is whine they don't get enough local revenue and then they end up with surpluses while individual teachers spend money for class supplies out of their own pocket.. Maybe some of that should go to Moose.
last night one of his deputies was at the middle school in full uniform watching his daughter practice softball for almost 2 hours. im not sure if he was on duty i didnt ask but it gives a bad impression. his vehicle was in the parking lot and he did answer his cell phone on numerous occasions. it does not appear to be the best use of county dollars for him to watch softball practice instead of his job.
when he said he had to reassign a deputy to investigate meant fewer tickets and less revenue. It just goes to show they are not out there for our safety but to generate more money for the county. Is King George really plaqued with as much crime as DC or is the sheriff "keeping up with the Jones - Stafford County" that he has to have more deputies?
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