Taylor County budget workshop: sheriff warns cuts would mean fewer deputies; administrators propose targeted reductions

At a Taylor County Board of County Commissioners workshop April 29, 2025, county officials and department leaders reviewed the draft fiscal year 2025–26 budget and a set of possible reductions to meet a board goal of 10–15 percent in general‑fund savings.

John Ketchman, who spoke on behalf of the sheriff’s department, described a $9.25 million updated budget with roughly 84 percent devoted to personnel and warned that a 15 percent reduction—about $1.4 million—“would not come from turning excess. It would come from cutting people.” He said reductions of that size would mean fewer patrols, slower response times and fewer deputies and correctional officers available to serve the community. “The sheriff does not want to raise taxes,” he told the board, “but public safety must come first.”

County Administrator LaWanda and finance staff provided a detailed worksheet that separated general‑fund and special‑revenue accounts, listed personal‑services percentages by department and suggested $245,896 in…