Haskell County Sheriff blames deputy layoffs on county budget woes

Money problems in Haskell County have volunteers stepping up their efforts. <br><br>Sheriff Manual Ballard was forced to fire 6 deputies, and the UnderSheriff. The problem is the department doesn't

Thursday, March 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Money problems in Haskell County have volunteers stepping up their efforts.

Sheriff Manual Ballard was forced to fire 6 deputies, and the UnderSheriff. The problem is the department doesn't have the $56,000 it needs to pay the salaries of laid off employees through the end of the fiscal year in June.

So a handful of reservists are pitching in to protect the lives of approximately 12 thousand residents. Carolyn Aldridge, a Kinta resident, "With the drugs that we have in Kinta, and we have a big drug problem, what are we gonna do?â€ Joe Denney, a reserve Sheriff's Deputy, "We have people to protect, we're trying to do things that we have to do and now can't do it because the commission won't help us."

The Sheriffâ€™s office blames the budget shortfall on the County Commission. Commissioners say they can't afford to give the sheriffâ€™s office any more money until the new budget year starts in July.