KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Clay County Commission Monday approved next years budget despite complaints and concerns from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
The new budget includes cuts to Public Safety.
Sheriff Paul Vescovo is concerned those cuts will hurt his department. Approximately $600,000 could be cut from next year's budget, according to Vescovo. Because of last-minute changes to the budget, the department does not have the exact amount of next year's budget cut.
There are more than 20,000 people in unincorporated Clay County.
“We are their law enforcement agency, we are their police department, and we will be there,” said Sheriff Vescovo.
Last year, the Clay County Sheriff's Department budget was approximately $12 million.
Clay County Commissioner Luann Ridgeway, reassured the sheriff's department that money for body armor was not being cut.
Officials in the department are reviewing the 2018 budget to determine how much money they will lose next year. The sheriff said it could take two or three days to determine the exact amount of cuts to his department.
Vescovo said if the budget cuts dramatically hurt operations then he will ask the commission for more money.
