Aiken, SC -- With Aiken City and County budgets falling short by $1 million to $3 million...sometimes basic needs are set aside.
But Tuesday, there's good news: money from the new stimulus package from the Federal Government is trickling down to local law enforcement agencies.
Sheriff Michael Hunt, Aiken County Sheriff's Office (ACSO): “Anything that we can get to help our budgets certainly is needed."
ACSO stands to get $175,000 within the next few months.
Sheriff Hunt: "We're in the process, now, at looking at our options and our needs. We're going to be very cautious in how we use our money, so we can spend it wisely."
Sheriff Hunt says he plans to put part of that money toward his number one need: a new SWAT team vehicle. Extra money will go to training purposes...something the Aiken Department of Public Safety will mimic with their share of dollars:
Chief Pete Frommer, Aiken Department of Public Safety (ADPS): "We plan on purchasing some equipment, that we wanted to put in the budget this year, but because of the economic issues, we had to delete it from the budget."
Public Safety will get $62,000...and the Chief says it's coming soon.
Chief Frommer: "Sometimes some of these grants come out and it could take 6 or 9 months, and these are moving pretty quickly. We could actually, within two months, start receiving some of the money."
On top of the $62,000, ADPS is also asking for additional stimulus money: the Chief is applying for a quarter of a million dollars, money that would fill 4 vacant officers’ spots, paying for 100% of their salaries for 3 years.
Federal money…providing new officers, new vehicles, and a hint of a new outlook on the budgets and your safety in Aiken.
We'll have to wait to see if the Richmond County Sheriff's Office will also benefit from the stimulus money. There’s no word yet.
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