http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013421002_kingbudget13m.html

This is wrong, cutting the Sheriff's Department in retaliation for the Deputies Guild not foregoing a 5% raise guranteed to them in their contract. Although it is certainly arguable as to whether they should or shouldn't give up the raise, what I see as the real problem is this is an example of how not to budget public funds.

Budgeting should be based strictly on priorities and performance. Programs should have to prove their worth before being funded. So many programs in goverment remain funded year after year and no one knows if they even come close to accomplishing their stated goals.

In this case money is being allocated based on what is fair to the employees who gave up their raise and to make the Deputies suffer for not giving up their raise. It is not about what is fair to the county employees, but what is fair to the public. Its about setting priorities and funding programs that actually add value.

Whether the Deputies should or shouldn't give up their raise is not the point. The point is that government needs to be making budget decisions based on priorities of the public and performance, certainly not on revenge nor political maneuvering.

OK, I haven't read the article, so I could be off base...wouldn't be the first time.
Is it possible that some of the union members figure that it is better to lay off some workers and maintain their wage increases rather than allow the cost of deputies to drop? IMO, it's not a new thought, and it does have some legitimate arguments, especially when those who hold the purse strings have a history of fighting wage increases.
I'm not taking sides...but it is possible that the cut-back is partially self-inflicted.

What even makes this more stupid is that the county council signed off on that contract two years ago, when we were at the bottom of the recession. I guess they thought the money fairy would come and make everything ok.

Guess I would have to know what % of their pay Deputys give to the Unions before I could pass judgement here.

Cop hate being reminded they are public employees.

"Public employees" ?.....I wish. If that were true then they would be employed at the publics will. That would mean that there would be citizen oversight of the job they are doing, and those that don't meet the public standard would be fired.

They'd be less likely to kill, taze and beat the citizens and more lkely to actually serve us.

Instead they spend untold thousands doing undercover Barista stings and getting happy endings at the massage parlor.

The concept of public servitude is always misused. The party who is faced with the scrutiny of the public servant likes to try using the hammer, "You work for me!" Not true at the moment of confrontation. The public servant is then working for your neighbors. When he/she is at the neighbor's house confronting them, THEN he/she is working for you.

+1,000

Not to mention untold hundreds of thousands spent on driving supercharged V8 engines around while they sip coffee and look for drivers to verbally abuse.

Where do I sign up?

Weren't you already signed up in Whatcom County?

Dunno why you'd wanna see GHC's stretch marks and needle scars over Bellingham's hairy pit hippy chicks.