Rutherford Co. Sheriff: Cut Crossing Guards to Fund Positions, Pay Increase

Fifty-two crossing guard jobs may be on the chopping block in Rutherford County.

In his budget request Monday night, Sheriff Robert Arnold asked that the positions be cut in order pay the salaries of six narcotics officers and to give a three percent raise to all of his employees.

Currently, Rutherford County has 68 crossing guards who direct traffic for county schools outside and within the Murfreesboro city limits. By reducing the number to 16, county officials say they will be able to save more than three hundred thousand dollars.

Murfreesboro officials say they aren’t interested in picking up the payments, if the county cuts those jobs from its budget.