Prince William County’s high-profile crackdown on illegal immigration is facing the chopping block for fiscal 2010 as the Board of Supervisors looks for ways to cut spending at its annual financial retreat Friday.
The program is one of a host of cuts the supervisors will consider. County agencies have prepared for budget cuts from 10 percent to 33 percent, and County Executive Craig Gerhart will present the potential plans to the supervisors.
If proposed 20 percent cuts to the police department and jail are approved, the county’s illegal-immigration program with the federal government could be drastically reduced. Fewer officers and jail staff — if any — would receive training expressly devoted to the program to deport illegal immigrants who have violated local or state laws.
The Prince William/Manassas Adult Detention Center reported an $800,000 shortfall in fiscal 2008, which ended June 30, because of the county’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The gap included nearly $130,000 extra in overtime used to inspect jailed inmates’ residency status. Money received from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement was used to cover the shortfall.
Republican Chairman Corey Stewart said he did not think the program would be reduced. He said he believed the cuts to the police department would be about 10 percent, if there were any.
Marty Nohe, R-Coles, wasn’t as sure.
“It’s really hard to say,” he said when asked about potentially scaling back the iillegal mmigration crackdown.
“There’s nothing [in the budget] that’s not a positive program,” he continued. “Now the question is going to have to be, ‘What are our key priorities?’ The top priority for local government is always going to be public safety.”
The cuts could also reduce emergency medical services and further shrink other police and county jail staff.
Though agencies prepared for cuts of up to 33 percent, Stewart said some departments could be cut more.
“All the options are on the table,” he said.
