The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners approved the 2020 budget on Tuesday, Nov. 12, which includes cuts of $16.1 million from its General Fund. The majority of the General Fund goes to public safety, which includes the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Justice Services, the Coroner’s Office and some transportation projects. The largest cuts will be seen in these areas.
The impacts of these general fund indicated reductions are as follows:
$5.4 Million from Public Safety
- 288 jail beds reduced
- Sheriff staff reductions of 51 positions, 39 in detentions
- Reduced DA Elder Abuse and Crimes against Children staff
- Reduced DA Investigations and Diversion staff
- Transportation impacts
- Reduced capacity to respond to critical incidents
$10.1 Million from Stewardship
- Not filling a number of essential positions
- Cuts in county vehicles
- Fewer technology options
- Election integrity and timeliness risk
$626,000 from Health & Well-Being
- Public Health home visitation programs
- Food services education programs
- CSU Extension services
- Natural Resource Management
- Limits prevention of at-risk behaviors
Jefferson County not only faces these cuts in 2020, but they will get broader in 2021. County staff is already looking toward upcoming prioritization discussions with all elected officials and departments that will determine the scope of cuts in the 2021 budget.
As further analysis is made as these discussions move further along, the county will continue to share the impacts on the services that Jefferson County provides.