CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Both men seeking to be Bradley County's sheriff agree on one thing.
They will face a tough budget year.
On Sept. 1, Republican Jim Ruth or Democrat Steve Lawson will inherit the budget being put together now by Sheriff Tim Gobble and the Bradley County Commission.
Capt. Lawson leads the department's criminal investigation division. Capt. Ruth, a Republican, leads the department's courts services division.
"We took a 5 percent overall cut in the sheriff's department this year," Capt. Lawson said during a radio debate last week.
"You've got $18,000 in the sheriff's equipment line item for the entire year. You don't know how much of that is going to be spent prior to the new sheriff taking office. You've got to tighten your belt. You've got to try to probably have budget amendments during the year. You've got to watch the money and move it around," he said.
"You've got five new cars coming in this year. We've been getting 10 cars every year. You have to adjust to the situation," Capt. Lawson said.
Capt. Ruth said the sheriff's department is in the same situation as families facing the slow economy.
"The way the budget is, the way the economy is, that will be a pressing issue to deal with," Capt. Ruth said. "We will have to tighten our belt just like families out here have to."
Two weeks ago Mr. Gobble announced his departmental budget proposal for fiscal year 2011, including a $600,000 reduction in spending compared to the current budget.
"I worked closely with my command staff and budget director to identify areas where we could realistically cut spending for a one-year period without sacrificing or compromising public safety," Mr. Gobble said in his weekly public report. "It was a challenge and not something we can sustain for an extended period, but we did it."
The reduction, he said, was made to help avoid a tax increase.
The County Commission is scheduled to vote on the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget on July 6.