The first casualties of the mandated Marion County budget cuts have been released by the Sheriff's Department. Eight employees will be released, which will save $92,050 through the rest of the year.
Sheriff Tim Bailey was ordered, like all other Marion County offices, to cut 6% of their 2009 budget. For the sheriff's office, this equated to $172,050.
The other $80,000 was cut from various other line items.
Among the jobs lost were six dispatchers, a process server, and an administrative assistant.
Plans were to be submitted on Tuesday from other offices on what cuts they will make as the county attempts to make up for a $2.5 million projected deficit in this calendar year.
The Marion County Commissioners have already announced that office employees will be taking unpaid days off and the commissioners will be giving back 10 days pay.
In a press release, Sheriff Bailey stressed that operations will continue as normal and that the services that the community receives and depend on will not diminish.
"This is a nationwide economic situation and many law enforcement agencies are in similar position," explained Sheriff Bailey. He said he hopes that, as the local economy improves, the laid off employees return to work as soon as possible.
