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.