The Freeborn County Budget Committee’s $1.2 million budget fix proposal has been amplifying the agony of some department heads who claim their budget is already stretched.

Sheriff Mark Harig, for which the committee recommended 6-percent reduction, said it would be impossible for him to fill two deputy vacancies and one jailor vacancy.

He said trimming the training budget is difficult because public safety officers need to take training to renew their peace officer licenses every three years. With the unfilled positions, the deputies also have to cover.

“It’s a bad time for us not to attend training,” Harig said. “I don’t know how I can go through.”

The county ranks second in the state for the number of arrests of methamphetamine crimes this year, according to Harig. Twenty-two of 51 inmates in the jail, that has only 42 beds, were there on meth charges. Jail Administrator Steve Westland told the committee that handling the increasing number of meth inmates is getting more difficult because of the effect of drug on their behaviors.

In addition, the sheriff’s office needs to start hiring 10 new jailers for the new jail, which is not budgeted yet. The new jail has different style of supervision, and six existing jailers besides the new ones will have to take special training sessions.

Delaying new hiring would result in extensive overtime, which is “sending a lot more money,” according to Harig.

The committee also recommended a drastic 80-percent budget cut for the Freeborn County Extension Office. This recommendation is based on the idea that the department would need to maintain only the 4-H program.

But Director Pat Stumme said the $32,000 left is barely enough for continuing the program. She said 55 percent of $160,000 current budget is related to 4-H, and does not including the salary.

Extension already went through a huge reorganization last year, eliminating one position and merging two positions, including the director, with other counties. Stumme emphasized the county’s share has decreased by $22,694 past three years.

The recommendation will be presented to the commissioners at the next board meeting. Administrator Ron Gabrielsen said there would be several workshops before the board takes a final vote on the budget amendment in May.