The Hennepin County Board on Wednesday delayed a vote to reduce next year's Sheriff's Office budget by nearly $2 million.

Commissioner Peter McLaughlin had proposed to reduce overtime and some personnel costs from the 2019 budget, and also planned to slash nine new detention deputy positions. But he changed his mind.

Instead, Board Chairwoman Jan Callison on Wednesday offered a new proposal that would seek $1.5 million in cuts from three different departments: $750,000 from the Sheriff's Office, $450,000 from community corrections and $300,000 from the county attorney's office.

The board plans to vote Thursday on the Callison amendment, and is scheduled to finalize the overall county budget on Tuesday. Despite the proposed reductions, the 2019 Sheriff Office's budget will be larger than this year's.

McLaughlin's proposal would have eliminated $1 million for overtime in the Sheriff's Office, and adjusted its vacancy factor by $850,000 — money saved when an employee leaves before replacement is hired.

McLaughlin also wanted to drop one water patrol deputy position.

Outgoing Sheriff Rich Stanek opposed the cuts, saying he would lose funding for 17 sworn deputy positions. Sheriff-elect Dave Hutchinson also was unhappy with the proposal because he wanted to get into his new job first to see where cuts could be made.

David Chanen • 612-673-4465