Letter writer Carol Whitney thinks the sheriff’s department needs more staffing, more funding (“Understaffing puts officers at risk,” Tuesday). I disagree. I agree that Sheriff Rick Bart and his deputies are committed to our safety. That is not the issue.
When Bart submitted his budget proposals, which included increases everywhere as well as more staffing, he certainly lost any credibility with the public. Our county budget shortage is well known. Bart should have proposed a responsible budget with no increases and some cutbacks, as all other county departments are doing. His failure simply left the job to our county council and executive. Keep in mind the voters have rejected funding of the jail twice, which is a part of the county criminal budget. That shows the mood of the voters.
Ms. Whitney should not blame our county officials for failing to get their “priorities straight” when the sheriff seems to live in some dream world apart from the economic realities we all face. I applaud Executive Aaron Reardon for making the tough decisions to allot our limited tax dollars wisely.
Steve Morse
Snohomish
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
