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KLAMATH COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK SKRAH SAYS MEETING A 'TARGET' BUDGET WOULD FORCE DEPUTY LAYOFFS.
SHERIFF FRANK SKRAH / K.C.S.O: "They're asking for us to reduce patrol staff by 13 deputies.
Hell, I only have 12." SKRAH SAYS THE CUTS WOULD ALSO EXTEND TO THE
JAIL. SHERIFF SKRAH: "The jail pods will close.
We will go back to 'B' and 'C' pods being closed."
THE PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD GIVE THE SHERIFF ABOUT 8.4 MILLION DOLLARS. THE SHERIFF
SAYS HE NEEDS A LITTLE OVER 10 MILLION. SHERIFF SKRAH: "In other words, the same monies
that I got back in 2013, 2014, and 2015." THE COUNTY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JASON
LINK SAYS SOME OF THE BUDGET GAP IS DUE TO UNCERTAINTY OVER FEDERAL TIMBER FUNDS.
JASON LINK / CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: "If those funds are going to exist, what level
they look like they're going to be, and that sort of thing."
LINK SAYS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS LIMITED OPTIONS TO BRIDGE THE FUNDING GAP.
JASON LINK: "All the way from using working capital within the general funds, spending
that down to a very unsustainable level, to utilizing more road funds."
SHERIFF SKRAH SAYS HE WANTS THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT HE'S NOT CRYING 'WOLF'
SHERIFF SKRAH: "They look at us, 'Oh well, it's a threat by the sheriff to close down
jail pods so he can get more money' - no, it's not. It's a reality of what's going on."
IN KLAMATH FALLS, LYLE AHRENS, NBC2 NEWS.
