State Layoffs Hit Home

By Linda Kor
   With the state and country bracing under a struggling economy, those in many areas of Navajo County felt fortunate in the fact that even though they may not see many economic boons, they don’t experience too many economic lows either.
   Unfortunately, that philosophy is no longer true as it was announced earlier this month that six of the county’s adult probation surveillance officers will be laid off at the end of March.
   This announcement hits hard in this area, where family wage jobs with benefits are scarce.
   According to Presiding Superior Court Judge Michela Ruechel, it’s a hard hit not only to the families, but to the county as well.
   “We really can’t afford to lose six highly qualified individuals without impacting services,” she stated.
   Surveillance officers work with probation officers by keeping track of intensive probationers’ schedules, monitoring their activities and reporting the outcome.
   According Margie Brakefield, the county’s chief adult probation officer, the department is making the necessary adjustments to accommodate the loss of employees.
   “We were working in teams of one surveillance officer with one probation officer servicing 25 probationers, now we will have a probation officer working with just 15 probationers,” she explained.
   “I don’t think this will become an issue, because the longer an individual is on probation and successful at it, the less the officer has to keep track of their whereabouts.”
   Ruechel believes this will limit the time that probation officers will have to appear in court, and they may have to be given the option to appear telephonically.
   The county currently has 23 probation officers in its employ and although it means that the officers have to be more flexible in their endeavors, Brakefield doesn’t view it as a concern for public safety.
   “What may end up happening is that those probationers who excel on their probation may receive shorter terms, but statutes have to be enforced that protect the community and the public,” she said.
   Regarding a concern for public safety, Ruechel noted that there are specific guidelines that must be adhered to that ensure public safety, but admitted that at some point that may become a concern.
   “I don’t believe there’s an issue of public safety at this point, but at some point it may be affected if these cutbacks continue,” said the judge.
   According to Ruechel, 75 percent of the probation department’s budget comes from state funds.
   “In a two-week pay period, that savings comes to approximately $12,000 with just those layoffs, which adds up to quite a lot of money statewide,” she explained.
   Ruechel hopes that funds can be shifted from other areas, but doesn’t want to raise any false hopes.
   “I’m sure this is devastating news to the families of those employees who have been laid off. One of the first things we did when we were made aware of the layoffs was to contact the county human resource de-partment to see if these individuals could be employed elsewhere, but at this time there’s nothing,” she said.
   Lawmakers included roughly $17 million in cuts to adult probation statewide as part of a $580 million spending reduction.