SALINEVILLE, Ohio --


Another Ohio Valley police department will make cutbacks to financial troubles.

Salineville Village Council voted Monty night to reduce officers' hours and pay.

Talks of reducing the police force have been ongoing for some time, but no officers are being laid off as a result of the ordinance.

Village officials said the move will offset dwindling finances. The council voted to reduce Chief Tim Laclair's hours from 40 to 32 per week, and he will go from a salary wage to $12 per hour.

Several part-time officers will work 20 hours a week at $8.10 an hour with no benefits.

A council member told NEWS9 that part-time officers will work 10-hour shifts to provide maximum police coverage. But some people said they're concerned about the changes.

"I think we need full-time cops 24-7 in this town," said Salineville resident Jessica Thompson. "We've always had a drug problem in this town. I think it's getting worse. They did what they had to do -- I understand that -- and there may not be cuts anywhere else, but the police department would be the last one I would cut on."

Thompson said she's happy to that officers aren't being laid off, but would rather cuts be made elsewhere.

"They have a lady doing the sewer bill. Why can't the clerk do that? The previous clerk used to," Thompson said.

"We could bring in some more revenue. We did have a fitness center at one time. Not sure why that closed, but it was revenue at all times because it was inside of City Hall. They pay all the bills there (so) why not add some extra revenue?" said Salineville resident Chrystal Dickson.

Budget-crunching isn't expected to stop with the police department, officials said. Village council will hold another meeting Monday night to discuss potential cuts in other departments.

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