Story #2

Story #2

A meeting between the county sheriff and the county commissioners took place Thursday afternoon to discuss additional funding for the police department.

Sheriff Gus Dicesari told the county commissioners that he needed additional funds to hire new deputies and buy cruisers to replace eight of the older ones which all have about 150,000 miles on them.

“It is getting too costly to maintain the older vehicles and they spend too much time in the repair shop,” said Dicesari. “My deputies can’t keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen.” The estimated cost of the new cruisers and staff is $580,000.

The commission voted against giving the department additional funding 5-2. Commission President Anne Chenn explained that there isn’t enough money to cover the equipment and staff that the sheriff had requested. Dicesari was told that he would have to make do this year.

Increased health care costs and higher fuel prices have caused the county to run short on funds. Additionally, the county spent $30 million on a new prison to help with overcrowding.