GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Josephine County has tapped a one-time source of federal funds to keep three deputies on patrol after the failure of a public safety levy forced the sheriff to make deep cuts.
The Grants Pass Daily Courier (http://bit.ly/Kf8Xx0) reported Wednesday that county officials drew $435,000 from the county road fund that will keep three deputies patrolling for a year.
Sheriff Gil Gilbertson called the move “Robbing Peter to pay Paul,” because it has to be paid back, and will mean less money for road maintenance.
Last week’s failure of a $12 million a year public safety levy to make up for the expiration of federal subsidies for timber counties forced layoffs that were going to leave the sheriff the only lawman on call around the clock in rural areas.
