Mike Durr: While I have not prepared or managed a budget the size of the Sheriff’s Department before there are a number of people in our area who have the expertise and experience to do so. I intend to approach and enlist the help of some of these people, at least through my first couple of budgets.

I intend to begin a new budget by first surveying all the equipment, vehicles and facilities belonging to the Sheriff’s Office to identify needed repairs or replacement to be added to the budget. I will also consider input from Sheriff’s Department employees as to what type of new equipment may be needed.

The next step would be reviewing the previous year’s budget and using it as a guideline for the new budget. I intend to go through each line item in the budget to determine if the item was overfunded or underfunded at all, so the appropriate adjustment can be made. Adjustments to these items will also have to be added to allow for inflation and other unexpected cost increases.

After completing the budget my next step would be to present it to the budget committee. I intend to work with the committee and to listen to their advice and suggestions to complete a budget to be presented to the County Court.

After the budget is completed, we will still have to stay within it. To accomplish this, I will have to constantly monitor spending and make adjustments in spending as needed.

As for curbing costs in the Sheriff’s Department: This is a tough question, and hard to answer until I’m in a position where I can monitor the daily operation and determine where we can be more efficient. I do have several ideas I’m considering such as possibly replacing one of the department’s sport-utility type vehicles (SUV) when it is worn out with a passenger-type car. The initial cost difference between an SUV and a passenger car is considerable, and there is also the added benefit of better gas mileage.

Glenn Palmer: See note above, and the boxed letter on Page A5.