Timmonsville slashes police force to pay debts

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Timmonsville is letting go of its entire police force, its town administrator and a clerk of court to help pay off money it owes the federal government.

The Morning News of Florence reports (http://bit.ly/KACZ0j ) the Town Council voted 4-3 to make the cuts, which should save $400,000, or about 20 percent of the Florence County town’s annual budget.

Timmonsville Mayor Darrick Jackson says the town needs the money because it defaulted on payments on $6 million in federal grants and loans it received to bring its water system up to standards.

Jackson says the town will revisit its financial situation in a year and see if it can rehire its police force. In the meantime, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office will patrol Timmonsville.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com