CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SANTA ANA
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department anticipates a possible $71-million budget shortfall next year as sales tax revenue continues to plummet, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens told the county board Tuesday. She said she has asked division heads to find ways to cut up to 20% in each of their sections.
Hutchens made $20.5 million in cuts this year, including a 40% reduction in her command staff and 24 layoffs to sworn and non-sworn staff. Hutchens said the cuts to command staff prevented her from making cuts to front-line public safety resources such as investigators.
She warned that would not be avoidable this time around.
“This is not going to be a pretty picture when I bring it forward,” she told the supervisors.
“I’m nervous for the county and the status of public safety in the county.”
-- Tami Abdollah
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