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GREENSBORO — Despite what County Manager David McNeill may believe, Sheriff BJ Barnes still wants to add more than 100 deputies to his force.

Should the Sheriff get more deputies? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

McNeill recommended only eight new positions in his 2008-09 budget: four court bailiffs and four vice/narcotics deputies.

"We stand by the budget we requested," Barnes said in a Monday workshop on next year's budget before the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, the second workshop before Thursday's hearing.

That plan includes 89 detention officers and law enforcement personnel, and 12 new patrol deputies that would add another officer to each shift.

Shortly after Barnes' presentation — the first of the afternoon — the conversation jumped into the challenge that commissioners are elected to handle with the budget.

Everyone wants a slice of the pie. Some want the whole thing.

"We'll have a growth in the budget," said Commissioner Paul Gibson, "and schools alone will ask for more than that."

The county's revenue for 2008-09 is projected to grow by $15.9 million, according to McNeill's projections. Guilford County Schools asked for $15.8 million. McNeill recommended $12.5 million.

"Over the long run, we've done a disservice to other county departments," Gibson said of the funding distribution.

Barnes supported his need for deputies by comparing local and national figures.

The national rate is 2.49 officers for every 1,000 people, according to the sheriff's office. In Guilford County the rate is 1.9 officers per 1,000 people, a figure that does not include the population centers Greensboro, High Point and Gibsonville.

"Calls for service continue to rise," Capt. A.W. Caliendo told the commissioners.

Commissioners took no action on the nearly $590 million budget they must approve by the end of June. They did hear from several other departments, however.

Public Health

Working toward a health solution for the southeast part of Greensboro was a goal back in January for Merle Green, the county's public health director.

At first, Green thought that $1 million would help fund a clinic to serve the neighborhood in a section of ZIP code 27406 with limited access to health care and high disease rates.

Then that amount was whittled down to $500,000. And halved again.

Finally, no funds for a clinic appeared in McNeill's recommended budget, though private donors are nearly ready to jump on board, Green said.

Moses Cone Hospital may give matching funds, Green said, and the county has a potential location near a pharmacy in the neighborhood.

"I would appeal to the members of this board to give thoughtful consideration to it," Commissioner Carolyn Coleman said of funding the project, which would affect part of her district.

Guilford Center

The county may pick up a couple new employees, through the Guilford Center mental health and substance abuse program, that were paid for last year with money from the Guilford County Sheriff's Office.

Two added case managers would cost $165,024, and would work with substance abuse and mental health cases in the county jails. And there's an added $1.2 million in McNeill's recommendation for operating costs for a substance abuse center on Wendover Avenue that's expected to open soon.

"We may not be able to increase our budget," said Billie Martin Pierce, director of the Guilford Center, "but we can hold it steady. And it has to deal with generating revenue more efficiently and effectively."

The Guilford Center often deals with insurance companies and Medicare in its work.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com