SAN ANTONIO -- Jobs are potentially on the line at Bexar County Constable offices as the commissioners court lays out its budget for the new year.
The county said based on the workload at each precinct, several deputy constable positions may be eliminated in Precinct 1 and 3.
Precinct 3 constable Mark Vojvodich said the county is looking to cut three deputy constables from his office, which would mean a loss of more than 6,000 paid work hours spent protecting the community annually.
Vojvodich said deputy constables have taken on the responsibility of patrolling the streets and school zones, in addition to executing warrant arrests.
"If you ask anybody in Bexar County if we can reduce one DWI crash or one child being injured in a school zone, they'll say do it. These are the services citizens are asking us to do," Vojvodich said.
Vojvodich said his office needs more deputy constables. He's requesting the county add four deputy constable positions and two clerk positions.
"For five years we've asked for warrant officers. We haven't received them and clearly that's something residents in Precinct 3 want us to do. Address that issue. Now we're asking for that money.
Nathan Buchanan who's running for constable in Precinct 3 next year, said the office doesn't need more deputies and should focus on warrant arrests.
"It's basically duplicating services in the city. SAPD has traffic. Bexar County Sheriff's Office has traffic," Buchanan said.
Buchanan said Precinct 3 has more than 49,000 active warrants.
"I'm sure the public once they start realizing how much is out there and that's just In Precinct 3 alone. That's not combining all the precincts. $17 million is a lot of money," Buchanan said
The commissioners court will finalize its budget Sept. 1, and it will take effect Oct. 1.
