AS PART OF BUDGET CUTTING EFFORTS IN MONTEREY COUNTY, 21-SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RANKED AS SERGEANTS COULD BE LAID OFF. THE SERGEANTS COULD ALSO CHOOSE TO ACCEPT A LOWER PAY-RANK, BUT MUST DECIDE BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE NEW, LOWER PAY-GRADE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST. THE MOVE IS PART OF AN EFFORT BY THE MOTNEREY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO CUT 1-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS FROM ITS BUDGET.