RIO GRANDE — Two options, following Thursday’s financial meeting, will be presented to the Village of Rio Grande council next Monday regarding the future of the Village Police Department, either cut back hours to the officers and chief or contract with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office.

• Option one, cutting back hours — Police Chief Danny Day proposed cutting his position back to 37 hours per week, doing away with one 16-hour position and cutting the two 33-hour positions back to 21 hours. Day said by cutting other costs to the bare minimum and with the hope that nothing happens to the equipment, the department could save the needed money.

“We need to save enough money this year to put that $20,000 back in our budget,” said Day.

The current status of the budget was due to a miscalculation in appropriations, which left the department with a smaller budget than originally calculated.

• Option two, contracting with the sheriff’s office — It is a cheaper avenue for the village, however, according to statistics, the crime rate in Rio Grande has gone down each year since the installation of the police department.

“We’re a small village with a big village problem,” said Day.

Possible inmate medical costs are a problem faced by most municipalities that have law enforcement and can escalate quickly. There is a concern, that should the police department remain in the current fiscal state, the village would not be able to cover a large medical bill without endangering the general fund.

Village fiscal officer Beth Brabham said she was concerned about the health of the general fund should the village go with option one.

Day said, as of now, the village has not been hit with a large inmate medical bill, but that it probably will happen at some point.

According to Day, another option, to just have a chief, was not a valid option.

“There is no way we can provide 37 hours worth of coverage and do anything for this village,” said Day.

Discussion also turned to the possibility of a levy to support emergency services in Rio Grande.

The village meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.