NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) – The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office will begin implementing plans to reduce their anticipated budget deficit today.

Sheriff Louis Ackal says the budget deficit can be directly related to the loss of sales tax revenue, the loss of the work release program and the increases in health insurance, vehicle insurance and liability insurance.

Sheriff Ackal’s plan to reduce the budget gap will include laying off 26 employees, which is about a 9% reduction in staff.

Most staffing reductions will come from support staff personnel and all layoffs will be effective September 25, 2016.

Sheriff Ackal says the plan was to review each department and locate any expenditure that could be reduced or eliminated for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The patrol division will be fully staffed to provide the most effective law enforcement services possible.

The Parish Jail is also staffed to comply with inmate to guard ratio as mandated by the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Sheriff Ackal tells News 10 he will continue to review the budget and if necessary will make further adjustments in the future.