Northern Virginia sheriffs’ departments were largely spared from potential state funding cuts in the budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly, though about 200 sheriff’s deputy positions elsewhere in the state still hang in the balance. The General Assembly provided $6 million in additional funding for sheriffs in fiscal 2012 on top of the $16.6 million Gov. Bob McDonnell included in his proposed two-year budget.
Still, Arlington and Alexandria could lose a total of six sheriff’s deputies, according to the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association. Arlington County Chief Deputy Paul Larson, though, said he anticipated that the county would provide the necessary money to prevent layoffs.
Fairfax and Loudoun counties stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in state support for sheriffs, but, unlike some rural counties that rely entirely on state financing, the effect on personnel in the two counties would be minimal.
“I’m happy that the county is getting the money, but it wouldn’t have affected our staffing levels one way or the other,” said Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry.
Loudoun County budgeted for a potential loss of about $400,000, so cuts would not affect staffing levels, Lt. Col. Ronald Gibson of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department said.
Still, sheriffs across the state were counting on the 2010 General Assembly to impose a public safety fee on property and casualty insurance premiums to generate about $70 million in the current two-year budget, $30 million of which would have gone to the sheriffs.
But the fee was never enacted, according to John Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.
And even with the additional funding provided this year, about 200 sheriff’s deputies could face layoffs elsewhere in Virginia, according to the VSA.
Sheriff Ryant Washington, the association’s president, commended McDonnell for helping secure the extra $6 million — while also asking the governor to request $7.4 million more when the General Assembly reconvenes April 6.
“Such an action would be applauded by not only the sheriffs, but the general public that rely on sheriffs for critical public safety services each day,” Washington said in a letter to the governor.
McDonnell has until the end of March to consider changes to the state budget, but hasn’t decided whether to request the additional money for sheriffs, spokesman Jeff Caldwell said.
