In the Oct. 17 election, Washington Parish voters rejected the 1/2 percent sales tax, 55 to 45 percent. The tax was estimated to raise $2.4 million annually, and would have balanced a yearly budget deficit of nearly $600,000. Crowe said the additional money would have paid for several new staff members, new equipment and substations in the rural areas of the parish.
Now, the opposite is taking place. Last week, the sheriff laid off 20 employees and closed the WPSO substation in Bogalusa.
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“Effective October 26, I have laid off an additional 20 people and I have reduced three people from full-time to part-time,” Crowe wrote in the letter released Monday. “It breaks my heart to do this, especially with the holidays near, but my sworn commitment to operate this department with a balanced budget is a responsibility that I take very seriously.”
Crowe also outlined plans to discontinue several programs, including: DARE (an anti-drug program aimed at youth), TRIAD (a program that provides services to the elderly) and the annual TRIAD dinner — a traditional holiday feast for senior citizens that was paid for by WPSO.
Among the 20 jobs eliminated were the TRIAD positions, as well as positions in the jail, courthouse and sales tax division.
“We cut across the board,” Crowe said Thursday, adding he couldn’t wait any longer in order to fix WPSO’s budget issue.
He said the sheriff’s office has a debt of about $800,000, and WPSO should know by next spring if the recent cuts will be able to balance the budget.
Crowe said WPSO criminal patrols were not slimmed down as part of the cuts, and the number of deputies on the road remains the same.
“I have also temporarily closed the business office of the Bogalusa substation of WPSO, but I want to stress that our civil and criminal deputies will continue to be on duty there, serving you,” according to Crowe’s letter.
The sheriff did note a change to Washington Parish Drug Task Force, which also includes police officers from Franklinton and Bogalusa.
“I have beefed up our Drug Task Force from four officers to six. This now enables WPSO to place a task force team on the east side of the parish and one task force on the west side of the parish,” he said.
Crowe said he doesn’t expect to make any more cuts, and if the budget woes lessen next year, it’s possible he may be able to rehire some staff.
He said he will be cautious with any decision.
“We have to do what we have to do,” Crowe said.
Crowe's letter is printed in full in Wednesday's edition of The Daily News.
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