Bite of state cuts to be felt locally

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

KNOXVILLE — Reports out this week indicate that Scott County will be one of 13 counties statewide to lose routine patrol by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, due to state cutbacks.

Scott County, along with Pickett County, would rely on troopers from neighboring counties for assistance with traffic accidents and other occasions requiring the assistance of the THP.

Bledsoe, Cannon, Clay, Hancock, Houston, Johnson, Lake, Meigs, Moore, Sequatchie and Trousdale counties are the others highlighted for cuts.
The anticipated THP cutbacks are part of a 9% cut to the state budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, as Tennessee continues to struggle with budget shortfalls due to declining revenue.

A report by the Knoxville News Sentinel indicated that 553 troopers patrol Tennessee’s state roads this year, compared to 590 in 1977, a decline from 13 troopers per 100,000 people to nine troopers per 100,000 people.