The Dallas County Commissioners’ Court is faced with a $34 million budget shortfall for the 2008 fiscal year. By law, the County Commissioners must balance the budget. They also pledged to not raise property taxes this year. Hence, all County departments were requested to submit a plan to enact a minimum of 5 percent budget cuts.

Many department heads have fulfilled their duties to the proposed budget cuts, which means the goal of ending the $34 million shortfall has been 75 percent achieved. But, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins has been using delay tactics to avoid instituting 5 percent budget cuts in his department to the dismay of the Commissioners’ Court.

As of Tuesday, July 29, here are the only budget cuts that D.A. Watkins proposed: 1. “Eliminate Civil Division paralegal – savings of $56,314;” 2. “Eliminate Family Violence Division Case Manager II – savings of $63,855.” While other departments have initiated millions of dollars in costs cuts, the district attorney’s office have shown just $120,169 in savings.

Nevertheless, County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, a Republican, appeared startled to discover that D.A. Watkins would eliminate a position in the Family Violence Division. She said, “This sends a chilling message to our community.” She feared for the safety of battered women in their attempts to get protective orders from judges.

Yet, the Family Violence division would continue to exist, but faced with budget cuts. The eliminated position would entail that those continuing to work in the division must assume greater responsibilities, but would not get a raise in their salaries.

County Commissioner Mike Cantrell appeared to be the most vocal supporter of the budget cuts in the family violence division of the district attorney’s office. He angrily rebuked Bobbie Villareal, the head of the family violence division, for speaking out against D.A. Watkin’s proposal. This happened to be a rare moment when Cantrell raised his voice on any particular issue during a public hearing of the Commissioners Court.

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez made a surprise appearance at the Commissioners’ Court today. Actually, she hid in the lobby during the meeting and did not officially enter into the Court until after County Commissioner John Wiley Price exited from the premises. Her avoidance of Price appeared humorous to a certain degree.

She wasn’t wearing a sheriff’s uniform, which made it more difficult to recognize her. Thus it raises the question: “Should a sheriff wear a uniform to look like a sheriff?”

The County Commissioners will not hold a public hearing next week, but will meet again on Tuesday, August 12.

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