DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA -
You could see drastically fewer Dougherty County Police Officers on the streets and fewer street lights in the county.
That will likely be the result if county commissioners decide not to raise property taxes.
Commissioners are struggling to make up a shortfall of more than a million dollars in the Special Service District Fund that covers the unincorporated part of the county.
"I think that's a terrible idea," said Dougherty county resident Phillip Allen.
Allen says he's not in favor of a property tax increase or cutting police officers. He thinks there are other things that can be cut in the county's budget.
"It's just a scare tactic, as if there's no other place in this town that we can't save money except for policemen. I think that's ridiculous," said Allen.
Wednesday, the county finance committee along with the county administrator discussed the possibility of turning off power to most street lights in the county and cutting out animal control. Those cuts would save roughly $268,000.
Also discussed, cutting DCP nearly in half by laying off 16 officers and saving about $800,000. That's a move Chief Don Cheek calls devastating.
"If they take $800,000… 16 positions… out of the department, it is going to gut our ability to provide police services."
Chief Cheek says cuts that deep would put his officers in danger and hurt people who need assistance. He says response times would skyrocket.
"If we take roughly half of those officers off the street, our ability to respond to you call will probably, at a minimum, double," Said Cheek.
Allen says public safety positions should be the last jobs cut from county government.
"If we're looking at not hiring people or firing people, let's look at the whole bureaucracy. Let's just not look at needed people, the people we really need like our police officers. Let's look at everyone and see if there's any personnel that's more expendable than our public safety officers.
Without a recommendation from the finance committee, county commissioners must now make a decision before the July 1st deadline.
Some viewers have asked us why the millage rate is so much lower in other counties. County officials say there are several factors. The actual value of a mil varies from county to county. Dougherty County also has more tax exempt property than many counties.
There will be a public hearing Monday on the proposed budget at 10 am at the Government Center.
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