The Texas Department of Public Safety said they would have to get rid of the high profile sex offender registry if they have to cut their budget.
The proposed budget for DPS says if they reduce spending by 15 percent the sex offender website, and the postcard notifications will have to go away. The Austin American Statesman reports that DPS accountants reported the savings would be just over $3 million of the $28 million the state's police force would have to cut from its $2.7 billion two-year budget.
But state law requires the agency to operate the registry which keeps track of 62,971 sex offenders, including 445 in Potter county and another 168 in Randall.
On Wednesday, a DPS spokeswoman said it was a mistake.
Tela Mange, chief of media relations told the paper, "We do not anticipate any reductions in the sex offender (registration) program." She went on to say they are working on a revision to that.
The cut was listed in the proposed budget for 2012-13 and was recently submitted to the Legislature. That came as a surprise to many Legislative leaders, because back in June DPS Director Steve McCraw testified that he favored implementing a federal law, which would expand the registry. Some estimate the law that would expand the types of offenses for which offenders must register, could cost the state up to $38 million. McCraw however insisted it can be done for less.
The paper also reported that Mange said McCraw made it clear "that even if there is a reduction to the department's budget, the essential elements of the sex offender program would remain intact because of its importance to the state."
However there is no word yet on where the $3 million cut would be made, if the registry continues to be funded.
