By Anne Thom

Money, these days, seems to be the single most important problem faced by public agencies at the state, county and city level. The Stacy City Council held a work session prior to the meeting to budget for 2008 and that's all about money.

Chisago County Sheriff Todd Rivard and Corporal Chris Henricks attended Aug. 28 meeting to reinforce the new fiscal reality. Sheriff Rivard began by explaining he has been working with County Auditor Dennis Freed to try to set up different scenarios as far as revenue and expenditures for his department. Freed had advised him to offer two different figures. The contingency as to whether it will be the higher or lower one will depend on whether the county moves forward with plans to place mobile computer terminals, which Rivard called "MDC's" in the squad cars. This technology will allow deputies to run many of their own queries to the state criminal justice data network and receive the information back directly in the squad, instead of having to call into dispatch and have it done for them.

This development has the potential to greatly maximize law enforcement's efficiency.

Rivard quoted the high number as $49.96 hourly for contract deputies if the terminals are purchased, and at $43.95 hourly if the terminals are not purchased. Currently Stacy pays $41.23 hourly for public safety and contracts for 32 hours per week.

The council looked shocked by the nearly $50 hourly figure and Rivard quickly said he is sensitive to the budget process. He said he had asked Freed to try to pare down. Freed came back with an absolute minimum of $47.50.

Rivard said he is also waiting the outcome of discussion on whether the county would, if the purchase were in the works, agree to pay for the new equipment for the North Branch Police Department and the Wyoming PD.

The board of commissioners had initially agreed to fund the municipal agencies Rivard said, "But now due to budget problems they don't know if they're going to renege on this." The Sheriff also told the council union contracts with the public safety personnel have expired and the county board has not yet started negotiations that would undoubtedly include a pay increase. Rivard speculated this could be anywhere from 2.5 percent to 8 percent. He also said there had been discussion by the board about cutting staff, up to 10 deputies, in order to meet County Administrator John Moosey's request that all county departments cut their budgets by 3 percent.

The council seemed unsure of how to respond. They had requested the Sheriff make available all of the information he currently has to work with. It was more dismal than expected. City Clerk Sharon Payne checked the spreadsheet to verify that for 2007 the city had budgeted $65,346. At 32 hours a week and at the rate of $49.96, the public safety budget would increase almost 20 percent. Councilor Mel Aslakson asked if the council could know the final figure from Freed by Sept. 10, the date of the next budget work session. Rivard responded that should be possible.

Councilor Bud Wilson had a suggestion for Rivard as to how he could cut the budget. "This training stuff is baloney," he said. Wilson said he thought Deputy Cliff Sheppeck who covers Stacy would be too well trained and would then leave in order to make more money with a different county. Henricks and Rivard didn't respond regarding the suggestion that there is too much professional training, but both said they sincerely felt Deputy Sheppeck was committed to his job in Chisago County and has no intention of looking elsewhere regardless of salary.