Work has been completed on a fiscal 2011 budget for the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office that cuts spending by $600,000 over the current budget to help avoid the need for a tax increase.

Sheriff Tim Gobble said cuts were made as the finance committee continues work on the county’s budget in the midst of tough economic conditions that have resulted in projections of sizeable revenue reductions. Gobble said the sheriff’s office should be able to sustain these cuts for one year without a reduction in services primarily because vehicles and equipment have been improved over the last 4 years and are at the point now where these cuts will not hurt our response to citizens.

All current positions are included in the budget with no reductions in salaries.

"At no time since becoming sheriff has there been a need for a tax increase to sustain our fiscally responsible operations and every year we returned money from our balanced budget to the taxpayers. Next year’s budget will be tight but we are glad to be in a position to help hold the line on taxes and still maintain a safe environment to live and work.

"The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office brings in $4.2 M in operating revenue to the county each year, plus about $500,000 in drug related asset forfeitures and our inmate work program saves the county approximately $ 1M in expenses it would have incurred had the inmates not been working."