By Sara Strong The law enforcement debate between the city of Luverne and Rock County is about more than the money, or even the service.Sheriff’s Department employees are feeling the pressure, and some are looking for new jobs. Beyond that, the county worries that filling vacant positions will be difficult if the department is seen as unstable.County Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "Talking to the officers was sad. These are good contributors to the community and they are worried about their jobs and their families."Discussions on law enforcement had stalled to a certain point until a special joint committee meeting Wednesday morning. The city and county decided to continue negotiating the contract for 2005.The city of Luverne has sent numerous alternatives to the county’s budget proposal, but the county says it operates at the cost of doing business and can’t cut deals with the city.Wildung said, "I think we’re further apart than we were in February. It’s a pretty big schism, to be able to find some sort of compromise."The latest proposal from the city changed the funding formula and would mean paying $336,000 less than budgeted.County Administrator Kyle Oldre said the county can’t operate the department at its current standard without splitting the cost with Luverne, as it has since 1998."You’re not overcharged for the services," Oldre said. "And if you think you can do it cheaper — go ahead." City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "No one here has complained about services in the sheriff’s department and, as I’ve said time and again, we have no intention of creating our own department."Commissioner Ron Boyenga said the county developed a budget and the city can "take it or leave it."He said, "What you do is pick out numbers you don’t like, and you’re ignoring what’s positive for the city."The city says it shouldn’t pay for prisoner room and board and medical expenses because that’s a county obligation, outside of any contracts.The county says it isn’t required to provide for crossing guard services and other department items it picked up when the city and county departments merged. The county also pays any overages each year.Oldre pointed out that the county’s personnel expenses rose when the departments joined because the county had fewer staff than the city at that time.LaFond said, "But we have no control over our services; we’re just a revenue source."Law enforcement is just one contract the city and county share and which has been a sticking point during the mutual budget crunches.Oldre said, "Why is it that you have the attitude that ‘What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is negotiable’?"Looking aheadWildung said the city should come up with a number it can pay the county for law enforcement. Then, the county will use that figure to develop a plan for the department in that funding scenario."Maybe you can do it cheaper, and if you can, then the citizens will understand it, and I say good luck to you," Wildung said, "But there’s a lot more to running a police department than you might think."Oldre said, "If you can provide an equal or better department, do it."Rather than give the county an overall dollar amount it wants to contribute to the county Sheriff’s Department, City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi said it is important to note line items within the budget.Again, prisoner room and board is something the city doesn’t think it should pay. Vander Kooi said, "We want to preserve the concept that there are separate functions."County Attorney Don Klosterbuer said, "The contract means you are a buyer of a service, it doesn’t buy you the right to do their budget. … You aren’t going to get the same service for $336,000 less; it’s logically impossible."Vander Kooi said it is important to note what the county would have to provide because of state statutes. He said escalating costs in certain areas of the budget shouldn’t mean an automatic increase for the city’s fee.