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Monday's Internet Edition, March 15, 2010.
Petition drive started to save Wilton Service Center
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Photo by Fran Soto
A petition drive has begun to garner support for the Wilton Service Center (WSC), which houses sheriff’s deputies and VIPS (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff). The center is in jeopardy of closing. According to WSC office manager Michelle Savana, the nearest service center to respond to calls would be on 65th Street in Sacramento if the WSC closes down.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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Sacramento Sheriff's Department (SSD) staff, which is stationed at the Wilton Service Center (WSC) on Jeff Brian Lane, started a petition drive recently to encourage area residents to write letters in support of the center. At stake is the future of the WSC including possible layoffs of deputies and staff personnel and even the possible closing of the center in July. All this is attributed to county budget deficits.
Area residents can sign these petitions at the WSC and in area businesses including the Dillard Store and Wilton Garage. Michelle Savana, office manager of the WSC, hopes that residents will respond in high numbers. “We need to get support from the community. We could lose deputies as well as the WSC,” said Savana. “Write to Supervisor Don Nottoli. If the center closes, the nearest service center for assistance will be on 65th Street in Sacramento.”
Savana is encouraging residents to write letters, e-mail, or telephone the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors as well as the service center to express support. “We want to have all these letters and e-mails in hand saying the South County really does need these deputies and the service center,” Savana said. “Our e-mail address is wiltonservicecenter@sacsheriff.com.”
According to Savana, projected cuts in April could be the layoff of one deputy per shift as well as closing three of four service centers in South County. According to Savana, if this happens the service area covered by WSC deputies will increase to 554 square miles with two deputies per shift. “The deputies’ safety is important too,” Savana said. “If we have only two on shift, they may have to travel together.”
WSC Commander Lieutenant Rosie Enriquez emphasized her concerns of increased deputy response time to the Wilton area if anticipated cuts are made by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. “It is not only the issue of closing the service center, but the law enforcement portion will be greatly reduced,” Enriquez said. “In the last budget go around, deputies took the largest hit. Officer safety is an issue, but public safety is also an issue.”
Public safety for Enriquez is top priority, and she encourages area residents to convey their views to the supervisors. “The supervisors are working on behalf of the people, and the more the community speaks out, the more beneficial to that community,” she said. “If public safety is really your number one priority, you need to demonstrate that.”
For the supervisors, retaining vital programs is becoming more difficult because of dwindling resources. Declining revenues from sales taxes, license fees and property taxes are factors the board faces, as well as the fact that many programs and funding sources are mandated by law.
Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli said that mandated programs are often due to legislation. “A number of things that we do have dedicated streams of funding imposed through legislative action and voter-approved measures,” said Nottoli. “In dedicated funding streams, revenues can only be used in that area.”
Nottoli reiterated that public safety and support of law enforcement is at the top of the list. However, law enforcement dollars must cover all areas of law enforcement and not just patrol. Investigation, district attorney’s office, probation, public defender’s office and county jail are all part of law enforcement. “There is no question as we make decisions that we keep priorities in mind,” Nottoli said. “But we have to make choices.”
Those choices can also include retaining programs that have matching federal funds, which would be lost if the position is cut. Supervisor Nottoli also cited contractual obligations and programs that have mandatory funding requirements.
As the board works through the budget process, Nottoli encourages residents to be involved and to communicate with the board. “Public input is important. There is evidence that input has helped the board to maintain focus on priorities, and we do get ideas from the community,” he said. “We are committed to a safe community and good quality of life. I’m optimistic and believe we will work our way through, but it will be a tough couple of years.”
As all areas of law enforcement work through these times of reduced revenues, the residents of Wilton have been well served by community volunteers who aid deputies and staff. According to Savana, if the WSC is closed, VIPS (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff) will be disbanded. “VIPS have to be directed, and we have to have a paid staff member to oversee the program,” Savana said. “The service center is not just for law enforcement but is an information center. There is a huge list of things we do for the residents.”
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