Bad idea

Re: Sheriff takeover of jail.

I have been reading a lot about this lately. In most cases our commissioners want to contract out everything to save us taxpayers money and now they are considering letting the sheriff take over the jail from CCA.

I hope with all their great wisdom they have figured in the cost other than wages such as the benefits and outrageous retirements we, the taxpayers, will have to pay for in the future if we don't contract it out.

I think Hernando County will be responsible for everything, probably even uniforms. Another part that should make the hair on the back of your neck stand up is the hiring of new people.

Our unemployment is the highest of most counties already and in this paper it said that the sheriff said he agreed with the scenario that he might have to hire new people. I can see it now, a few months or years down the road the sheriff will need more deputies in order to keep running this facility.

Do you think the normal person off the street will be able to meet the qualifications without law enforcement training? I sure don't think so.

This will come down to more county employees and more of our tax dollars to support it.

Walter C. Searle

Spring Hill