SACRAMENTO: Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) is urging a state Senate budget subcommittee to restore $18.5 million in funding for a rural law enforcement program that provides $500,000 a year in grant funding to 37 California counties, including all 12-counties in Northern California´s 4th Senate District. Aanestad, who authored the Rural Crime Prevention Act nearly a decade ago while serving in the State Assembly, says the loss in funding will have a dramatic impact on rural sheriff´s departments.
"With a budget deficit of close to $20 billion, and as a fiscal conservative, I very much understand the need to cut wasteful spending in California," said Senator Aanestad. "But law enforcement protection is the number one responsibility of state government. This is not an example of wasteful spending and it will lead to layoffs and cutbacks in rural areas that can least afford them."
Senator Aanestad authored AB 443 in 2001 at the request of rural law enforcement leaders and the measure earned wide bi-partisan support and praise. The funding program has been automatically extended in each budget year since it was signed into law. Rural sheriffs departments are free to use the funding to hire additional deputies or the funding can be used for equipment such as patrol cars.
"There´s no question that legislators need to cut spending, but the question is where," said Senator Aanestad. "I don´t think this action adequately reflects the priorities that most people have when it comes to the state budget. Our number one responsibility to the citizens of California is law enforcement protection. Every other concern is secondary."
Senator Aanestad is hopeful that the Governor will retain funding for the program when the May budget revision is released tomorrow. His north state district stands to lose $6 million in funding with the proposed cut, which he predicts will lead to layoffs and other losses.
"The action taken by this budget committee late last week goes far beyond what the Governor proposed in his January budget," said Senator Aanestad. "The suggestion that rural counties absorb this cost is absurd. They´re one step away from bankruptcy as it is."
This is not the first time that the Rural Crime Prevention Act has been targeted for elimination. The Governor proposed cutting the program early last year before funding was restored during the May budget revision. Other budget committees have also taken similar actions, only to have funding restored at a later date.
"Rural residents deserve the same type of law enforcement protection that urban areas receive," said Senator Aanestad. "This proposed cut places rural families at risk. I will not support it."
"With a budget deficit of close to $20 billion, and as a fiscal conservative, I very much understand the need to cut wasteful spending in California," said Senator Aanestad. "But law enforcement protection is the number one responsibility of state government. This is not an example of wasteful spending and it will lead to layoffs and cutbacks in rural areas that can least afford them."
Senator Aanestad authored AB 443 in 2001 at the request of rural law enforcement leaders and the measure earned wide bi-partisan support and praise. The funding program has been automatically extended in each budget year since it was signed into law. Rural sheriffs departments are free to use the funding to hire additional deputies or the funding can be used for equipment such as patrol cars.
"There´s no question that legislators need to cut spending, but the question is where," said Senator Aanestad. "I don´t think this action adequately reflects the priorities that most people have when it comes to the state budget. Our number one responsibility to the citizens of California is law enforcement protection. Every other concern is secondary."
Senator Aanestad is hopeful that the Governor will retain funding for the program when the May budget revision is released tomorrow. His north state district stands to lose $6 million in funding with the proposed cut, which he predicts will lead to layoffs and other losses.
"The action taken by this budget committee late last week goes far beyond what the Governor proposed in his January budget," said Senator Aanestad. "The suggestion that rural counties absorb this cost is absurd. They´re one step away from bankruptcy as it is."
This is not the first time that the Rural Crime Prevention Act has been targeted for elimination. The Governor proposed cutting the program early last year before funding was restored during the May budget revision. Other budget committees have also taken similar actions, only to have funding restored at a later date.
"Rural residents deserve the same type of law enforcement protection that urban areas receive," said Senator Aanestad. "This proposed cut places rural families at risk. I will not support it."
