RIDOTT (WIFR) -- County sheriff's deputies are the only police protection for places like Ridott and in Stephenson County that protection is being threatened by a looming budget deficit.

"Not only Ridott but the whole county itself."

Kim Kopp is Ridott's village president and he believes cutting six deputies would put all of rural Stephenson County at risk.

"Reducing that many, even two, would reduce the response time not only for village people, but for EMS, fire, public safety as a whole."

"Unfortunately it's going to have an effect on how we can patrol the county and the services we're going to be able to provide for the citizens," said Sheriff David Snyders in a November 8th, 2010 interview.

The sheriff's budget reductions could leave only two deputies on duty at any point during the week to cover all 500 square miles of the county. It's a situation that frightens many rural residents.

"Knowing that somebody might be in West of Lena for instance and I have a domestic dispute or some body's trying to invade my home or whatever in town here, they'll never make it," said Kopp.

"The deputies who are remaining, they're still going to continue to do the best job they can, but this is still a bad situation that we're facing for 2011," said Snyders.

Proposed cuts could be over-ridden by the county board. Following a vote for adoption of the 2011 budget tomorrow a resolution to establish the number of sheriff's deputies will be voted on. One county board member describes the resolution as a vote to spend into a deficit in order to reduce the number of deputies cut or not. No matter the outcome a heated debate is expected to take place 6:30pm Monday night at the county courthouse.

(Chip Brewster is available via email AND facebook... feel free to shoot him a message or friend him at any time)