SALEM (WSLS) - Around $12.5 million will be cut from Virginia State Police's budget with
Governor Terry McAullife's Savings Plan.
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The Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security that funds the Department of Corrections and Virginia State Police is being cut by $43 million.
Virginia State Police has 41 vacant positions that won't be filling according the the Governor's plan.
Trooper Beverly Haile, who represents our region for the Virginia State Police Association, says the cuts will only result in spreading troopers thin and hurting morale.
If the department doesn't have the money to fill those open positions, Haile says many troopers will have to work overtime.
However, Virginia State Police aren't compensated with pay, but with vacation days. If they continue to be short-staffed, Haile says troopers most likely won't get those days off and may end up working for free.
"We understand going into this line of work, it's not done for the money. We love our jobs. there's pride in what we do, but it would help with knowing that the government and the governor's office supports us a little bit more than what they have," Beverely Haile with the Virginia State Police Association said.