Winchester City committee discusses using new tax revenue for court victim services, sheriff staffing and vehicle replacements

John Piper, deputy city manager for public health and safety, told the Winchester City Public Health and Safety Committee that staff was presenting options for allocating revenue from the recently adopted 79.5¢ tax rate and seeking direction on public-safety priorities.

The committee heard two principal requests: the Commonwealth Attorney asked the city to restore a third full-time victim-witness advocate position that had been reduced to part time after a grant cut; the sheriff renewed a request for two deputy positions to staff courthouse entrances and outlined a four-vehicle replacement plan for his fleet.

“The city supplemented that part time position after the grant was reduced,” the Commonwealth Attorney said, describing a staffing shift that left the office with “2 victim witness advocates [who] are exceptional” and a third position that would be part time without additional city funding. She said the office currently supports victims in General District Court for crimes ranging from burglaries and…