WELCH, W.Va. — The McDowell County Commission voted Tuesday to shift money from the county’s ambulance authority to the sheriff’s department in an attempt to keep deputies from being laid off.
The plan is to shift $21,000 a month beginning in January.
McDowell County Commission President Harold McBride said he thought the ambulance authority could survive with less funding. He said law enforcement had to be the top priority.
Sheriff Martin West told MetroNews last week losing six deputies would essentially “wipe out” the department.
“We’re not going to be able to respond to calls because we’re mandated to be in court and bailiff and doing all these other things,” West said.
The sheriff said Tuesday he was thankful for the help from the county commission.
The commission said it would still have to closely monitor revenue collections.The county has been hard hit with the loss of money from the production of coal.