Okaloosa sheriff's budget cut

Twelve positions, 11 people, 30 vehicles and other costs totaling more than $1 million have been trimmed from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

The cost-cutting measures are aimed to shape up the agency's budget for the next fiscal year.

A hiring freeze was implemented in March that only allowed critical positions to be filled by using existing staff members.

"We've lost bodies. We've also replaced some personnel by adding duties to existing positions," Maj. Larry Ashley said.

Ashley knows about expanded duties. As of Sunday, he was promoted to chief deputy, which places him in charge of all Sheriff's Office operations. He also will oversee legal issues, professional standards, the vehicle fleet and facilities, inventory, contracts, homeland security and public information.

"We're trying to be the most effective we can with the amount of dollars we have," Ashley said. "It's just economics. Everybody is having to tighten up and we're not beyond that."

Positions cut include the chief of staff, director of support services, assistant director of administration, assistant director of information technology, finance manager, three school resource officers and four records clerks.

No patrol deputies will be cut.

Sheriff's Office employees also will see no raises and no pay-for-performance bonuses. With the cost of living and health care going up, Ashley said the lack of raises will feel like a pay cut.

In addition to personnel adjustments, interim Sheriff Ed Spooner plans to eliminate 30 vehicles from the fleet. Many of them are civilian and volunteer vehicles, Ashley said.

Administrative Services Director Leslie Frank will take on human resources and finance. Frank said reducing the fleet will save about $180,000. It costs an estimated $1,000 a year to insure a vehicle and about $5,000 a year for gas and maintenance, according to Frank.

A small vehicle pool will be available for the sheriff's posse and other employees who normally would have access to a car.

While deputies will remain on 12-hour shifts in 2009-10, adjustments will be made to eliminate built-in overtime. With deputies working 12-hour shifts, they actually work 168 hours in 28 days. Each deputy now will have a few days when they come in late or leave early during off-peak times to cut back 8 hours per month.

Ashley said the budget and contracts haven't been finalized, but the financial plan shouldn't deviate too drastically.

"I believe that we will be effective enough that we'll be able to return some money to the county this year," Ashley said. "Our realignments are from top to bottom. Everybody is having to pull together and do more with less."