Evangeline Sheriff Examining Budget Problems After Layoffs

VILLE PLATTE, La. (AP) — Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau says he's examining a budget shortfall in his office that led him to lay off 14 employees and cut salaries for remaining workers by 10 percent.

KATC-TV reports the shortfall is so severe that only one deputy on patrol duty at any time.

In a Friday statement, Soileau says his staff and an accounting firm are examining the problem and will release information publicly when they're done.

Evangeline Parish Police Jury members say they don't have any additional money they can give to the sheriff's office.

Police jurors have made multiple requests for the sheriff's current budget but have instead received a 2015 audit. Soileau didn't attend a police jury meeting Thursday, and police jurors say he's not answering their phone calls.

(Information from: KATC-TV, http://katc.com)

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