Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
After bringing up the idea of cutting the police force in order to balance the budget at the last Palouse City Council meeting, Councilman Cecil Floyd may make a motion at the next one.
Floyd, the Streets and Sidewalks chairman, said that he will put forth two scenarios at the Nov. 13 meeting.
One option will be to reduce the three-officer police department to just the chief.
“This would balance the budget and put money back into the general fund,” said Floyd.
The second option he will suggest is to reduce the force to one and a half officers, meaning one full-time and one half-time.
“This would fall short of balancing the budget but it would make a pretty significant impact, getting it close,” Floyd said.
Palouse City Clerk Joyce Beeson said the 2012 general fund is estimated to include spending $25,000 of the city’s reserves.
Reducing the budget is on the agenda for next week’s council meeting.
In the meantime, other council members are working to find other cuts, which may impact what Floyd may propose next Tuesday.
“It would depend on if the budget committee has come up with enough ideas to balance the budget,” Floyd said. “If not, then most likely I will make a recommendation.”
The council is required by law to approve a 2013 budget in December.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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