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An Uncertain Future for Public Safety in Warren County
The Warren County Sheriff says he's taking a wait and see attitude as to what will happen with his department now that voters have rejected an additional sales tax that would have paid for public safety needs.

Sheriff Martin Edwards says he's not sure what will happen now that voters Tuesday rejected, on a 54% to 46% margin, a one-cent sales tax increase that, Edwards and others estimated, could have brought in as much as $600,000 annually for his department, and would have done away with a $200,000 county budget deficit.

Edwards tells WGIL just because the money isn't there, doesn't mean his department's needs go away. "I continue to be concerned with our current manning levels," Edwards said. "It's not a good picture. Our services are strained now, and I certainly hope that they don't have to deteriorate in the near future. (2009) is already set."

Edwards says he just hopes that 2010, "isn't bleaker" in terms of finances than 2009 already appears to be. He says everyone he seemed to talk to supported the public safety sales tax, but he says it was virtually impossible to get to everyone.

Edwards believes, however, no matter where Warren County voters stood, he's glad so many of them voted.
11 05 08 by Newsroom
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