Sheriff Mims said, "There are no more reserves. Money is not going to be moved from one department to the other. You gave me a budget, and I will live within that budget and make the cuts I need to make."
Sheriff Mims gave that statement to the board of supervisors. They all agree Sheriff Mims faces a budget deficit due to declining revenues. Up to three floors at the Fresno County Jail will be closed and the inmates will walk out of custody. Mims said, "No matter where I cut in the sheriff's office, it's going to affect public safety in some manner or another."
Action News reviewed published jail statistics. We found the early releases started over the weekend. Saturday, January 9th 49 inmates were released. On Sunday that number went down to 28. Then yesterday, 47 suspected criminals were set free. The jail population is approximately 24-hundred men and women, but a year and a half ago that number was 31-hundred.
Supervisors expressed major concern. Supervisor Henry Perea said, "In my mind that has a significant impact on the safety of our community, going into our districts where the folks of Fresno County live, we are going to be talking about the release of more prisoners into our community." Judith Case said, "We got some tough times ahead of us and this is just the first volley of the New Year."
Eric Schmidt is the union president representing the deputies- none of whom will get lay off notices at this point. Schmidt said, "Concessions from our end, salary reductions, benefit reductions, anything to bridge a gap, to save money for the sheriff and jobs for the deputies."
There's a chance some of the 69 lay off notices could be avoided if the unions make concessions. The notices are expected to take effect on February 8th.
