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DA's office resists Dallas County cutbacks 
07:19 PM CDT on Friday, March 13, 2009
Watkins Resists Cutbacks
Craig Civale reports
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DALLAS — How much is your safety worth? Dallas County Commissioners are asking all departments to slash 10 percent from the budget.
Commissioners have asked District Attorney Craig Watkins to fire one prosecutor from each of its felony courts to help make up the deficit, but Watkins says that kind of cutback could put you at risk.
Standing among hundreds of his own staff Friday, Watkins fired off a warning shot at the Commissioners who control his purse strings. "We're just asking that you leave us alone," he said. "We understand that some places need to be cut, but this is sacred ground you're asking to cut — the DA's office, law enforcement."
Watkins said his lawyers are already underpaid; his office understaffed; and prosecutors don't have enough time with the cases to which they are now assigned.
"The people who are going to suffer is the public — it's going to be you," said prosecutor Andrea Handley.
The Distict Attorney's office not only wants to be omitted from county budget cuts, but it's asking Commissioners for more money.
"We need 100 more prosecutors in this office; that would be adequate for us," Watkins said.
But Commissioner John Wiley Price fired back, saying that with Dallas County facing a $64 million budget shortfall, every department is being asked to pitch in. He said Watkins is trying to use scare tactics to drum up concern.
"Their filings are down, so what do you need 100 more prosecutors for?" he asked. "You can't play this game with us; we've been here before, we know it, at the end of the day, everybody has to come to the altar."
The DA's office has submitted a proposal that includes cutting back on the 24-hour jail intake and offers suggestions for his office to increase revenue for the county. Watkins says his plan would save $3.5 million without cutting any staff members.
Commissioners have thus far called that proposal unacceptable; they have the final say on what happens next. ccivale@wfaa.com
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