Budget Crisis Prompts Sheriff's to Cut Hours For One Division

Tightening budgets have prompted San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops to cut back the number of days the Records Division at Sheriff’s Headquarters will be open.

Starting June 24, the records office will be closed to the public every Friday.

Among the division's duties are archiving deputy reports and arrest booking information, entering felony and misdemeanor warrants into the Sheriff Automated Warrant System and providing other law enforcement agencies warrant confirmation information.

The reason for the cut back in hours is there are fewer staffers to keep the office open, said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department. The positions have been left open as people have retired, left or been transferred, Miller said.

“Because of budgetary reasons, they are not being filled,” Miller said.

Hoops has been adamant about keeping his staff intact and services at their current level as much as he can, Miller said.

“His message continues to be strong in that he does not want to lay anybody off because of the budget issues,” she said.

The county’s projected $30 million budget shortfall is forcing all of its connected agencies to make deep cuts. The Sheriff’s Department is being asked to cut $26.5 million.

County officials called a mid-year fiscal report gloomy, noting that property taxes were down $3.2 million because of reduced property values, county officials said in a summary of the report.

Instead of cutting staff, Hoops has put projects on the back burner, Miller said.

“About a year ago we were in negotiations to purchase a building off of Hallmark Parkway,” Miller said. “That capitol improvement project has been put on hold. The money that was earmarked to build a new crime lab is going to be used in other directions, for operations and supplies and things of that nature."

Delaying the project will save the department some $25 million over the next three years, Miller said.

The records division, also handles fingerprinting and the archiving of a number of reports, warrants and maintains statistical data.

The sheriff’s department remind the public that the office will continue to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The department asks anyone with questions to call the Records Division at (909) 387-3670.