By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – A Circuit Court judge has granted the Jefferson County sheriff's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent further budget cuts to his office.
Judge Dan King issued an order on Wednesday that froze the sheriff's office budget for the next 10 business days. The action prevents the county from reducing the sheriff's budget by $5.1 million.
The commission voted Tuesday for across-the-board cuts that would reduce the fiscal 2009 budget by $31.7 million.
Sheriff Mike Hale said the 33 percent reduction ordered by the commission would devastate his office and public safety.
A lawyer for the sheriff, Keith Jackson, said a preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 13.
Commission President Bettye Fine Collins said the county doesn't have the money to fund the sheriff.