Texas county cuts overtime funds in response to crime wave
Limestone County, Texas, is in the midst of a crime wave that has racked up double the usual number of murders over the past year, according to KXXV-TV. Each capital murder case may cause the county to spend as much as $500,000 in court costs, which has resulted in a budget shortfall.
In response, funds for overtime employee attendance have been cut for those working for the Sheriff's office. The county's new jail is also cutting into the budget for time and attendance compensation, although judge Daniel Burkeen predicts that that will be partially offset by money coming from new inmates.
"You can't anticipate things like that," said Burkeen of a double homicide in the city of Mart that occurred less than a month ago, as quoted by the news source. "You never know when a big case is going to come and it takes a lot of resources, but we'll do what we need to do to protect the people."
Budgets are tight across the country, and law enforcement officials are feeling the effect. Last month, voters in Hollywood, Florida, approved an initiative to exclude overtime from the pension plans of police and firefighters, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In response, funds for overtime employee attendance have been cut for those working for the Sheriff's office. The county's new jail is also cutting into the budget for time and attendance compensation, although judge Daniel Burkeen predicts that that will be partially offset by money coming from new inmates.
"You can't anticipate things like that," said Burkeen of a double homicide in the city of Mart that occurred less than a month ago, as quoted by the news source. "You never know when a big case is going to come and it takes a lot of resources, but we'll do what we need to do to protect the people."
Budgets are tight across the country, and law enforcement officials are feeling the effect. Last month, voters in Hollywood, Florida, approved an initiative to exclude overtime from the pension plans of police and firefighters, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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