Mayor Alvin Brown's new proposed budget cuts to city departments could compromise Jacksonville's public safety.

WOKV spoke with expert crime analyst and former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Ken Jefferson.

“You can’t expect to have an effective police department as well as fire department if you continue to cut it at its feet, and expect it to have the results that Jacksonville is seeing right now with the reduction in crime. It just can’t happen,” says Jefferson.

Jefferson also says Jacksonville can't afford to be compromised on public safety if city departments like JSO and JFRD have to take a 10-15% cut.

“The city council as well as the Mayor need to re-look at that and consider some choices because eventually, the city is going to suffer,” says Jefferson.

Jefferson says the Sheriff needs to look at his entire organization, streamline the staff, and provide the amount of money he needs to cut his budget.

“You have got to look at the overall operation, you have got to look at your entire staff,” says Jefferson.