Sheriff's department lays off employees, sells unused vehicles

<br>POTEAU, Okla. (AP) _ A revenue shortfall has led to the Le Flore County sheriff to lay off five employees and sell unused vehicles, county officials said. <br><br>The sheriff's department had hoped

Friday, December 7th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) _ A revenue shortfall has led to the Le Flore County sheriff to lay off five employees and sell unused vehicles, county officials said.

The sheriff's department had hoped county revenues would make up for the shortfall, County Clerk Alan Vickers said Thursday.

``But the county was short, so he (the sheriff) had to make some cuts,'' Vickers said.

Attempts to get comment from Sheriff Roy Gentry were unsuccessful.

Gentry told the Poteau newspaper the layoffs could be temporary and would be re-evaluated after Jan. 1. He said the shortfall is partly due to debts incurred by the previous sheriff's administration, such as medical, pharmaceutical and fuel purchases.

The cuts will save the department about $7,500 a month, he said.

The shortfall occurred in the department's personnel account, Vickers said. The department spent too much on salaries and needed to cut four jobs to break even. A fifth position had to be cut to shore up another account that also had a shortfall, Vickers said.

Four, four-wheel-drive vehicles that weren't being used will be sold as part of a county auction, Vickers said.