Finance director proposed deeper cuts to sheriff

With another ugly round of bloody budget cuts looming in Glenn County , the outgoing county finance director has presented a series of budget solution alternatives that Sheriff Larry Jones referred to as "a sucker punch."

Glenn County Finance Director Don Santoro has proposed to more than double cuts to the Sheriff's Office, while reducing cuts to his own office by nearly $40,000, according to a Finance Department memo addressed to the Board of Supervisors.

"It's an asinine proposal," Jones said Friday. "It was a sucker punch from left field. It caught me totally by surprise."

Santoro announced Aug. 31 that the county's budget deficit was unexpectedly $1.1 million more than originally anticipated, then announced his retirement two weeks later - which was also a surprise.

"I feel it is my duty and responsibility to report to the Board my opinion of the ad hoc budget committee's recommendation ... and offer an alternative proposal using sound business practices," Santoro wrote in the memo dated Sept. 7.

An budgetary ad hoc committee consisting of Chairman Steve Soeth and Supervisor Mike Murray proposed taking $225,000 from the sheriff's office, Santoro recommends cutting $556,000.

"It would mean (the sheriff's office) would come up with more than half of the total deficit on our backs alone," Jones said.

In the memo, Santoro outlines exactly where he believes Jones should chop from his budget, saying the Sheriff's Office is "top heavy" with administrators, noting that "there is one lieutenant or sergeant for each seven officers and jailers."

The Glenn County Department of Finance closes at noon on Friday and attempts to reach Santoro were not successful.

The sheriff was angered that another department head would attempt to micro-manage his office, especially without consulting him.

"I was never contacted by Mr. Santoro, which I find extremely unprofessional," Jones said. "I expected more from him."

Jones said the Santoro proposal would "devastate" law enforcement by cutting six sworn deputies and eliminating 24-hour patrol for his office, which would have a ripple effect on all other local law enforcement agencies and likely leave portions of each night where the only police on the streets would be two officers from the California Highway Patrol.

Santoro proposed significant cuts for all departments, and for the most part, his proposal was in agreement with committee recommendations.

However, Santoro's proposal would decrease cuts to his department by $37,000 and the Personnel Department by $15,000, as well as restoring all of the $100,000 the committee proposed to take from the District Attorney's office.

The out-going finance director justifies restoring the nearly $40,000 by saying his office is also already operating at "critical" minimum staffing levels and many important audits and reports have already fallen through the cracks.

As a result of missed deadlines, Santoro said in a May 5 memo, "our ability to obtain future loan commitments may be at risk."

Santoro's memo also notes that the board committee made no recommendations for cuts to their own department and recommends taking $23,523 from the supervisors' budget. Additionally, Santoro suggests doubling the cuts to the probation department from $15,000 to $30,000.

The board meets again Tuesday morning to hear further reports and recommendations as they scramble to find the $1.1 million that was discovered missing last month when county revenues failed to meet initial projections.

Jones praised the work of the ad hoc committee and said he hopes that "everyone can work together" to stem the fiscal tide that seems to be consuming county services.

"We will work with a spirit of cooperation with the board of supervisors, as we must continue to seek answers and solutions in these trying times."�