(WSBT) St. Joseph County's budget battle took another turn Tuesday night, as county leaders put a series of proposed cuts before the public for the first time. The hearing came just one day after county leaders learned they'll have even less money coming in than they first thought.

The county's new projected deficit is nearly $6 million, and that could mean ever more cuts and layoffs than first predicted. Tuesday night, some said county leaders have to find another way.

Prosecutor Michael Dvorak was the first to speak.

"Public safety is the first and foremost concern that the citizens you serve and I serve have," he told the council. "I recognize that you have fiscal problem, but I also recognize that you have a duty and an obligation to your departments. Right now, we're kind of in the dark."

Dozens of County employees, many from the Prosecutor's Office, sat in a show of solidarity, pleading with the County Council to reconsider a new list of proposed cuts to departments across the county. Some are worried the cuts could cost them their jobs, but no one's sure yet who might be impacted, or how many.

But Dvorak said he is sure the list would cost the county more than it would save.

"The kinds of cuts they're forecasting are too deep," Dvorak said. "If we make those cuts, and the cuts are made too deep, we jeopardize the citizens of St. Joseph County."

And the prosecutor isn't alone.

"The past five years we've made tremendous progress," said St. Joseph County Sheriff Frank Canarecci. "And I'm worried we may be taking a step back."

But county leaders maintain they may have no other choice.

"We are under a major budget deficit," said County Council President Rafael Morton. "Therefore, we have to do the best we can with the resources we have."

That's why Morton says they're still asking every department to share the burden.

Sheriff Canarecci says he understands that and he believes some cuts can be made that won't directly impact public safety. But he cautions, they could cause even deeper cuts down the road.

"That's my major concern," said Sheriff Canarecci. "We can fix it this year, but we're going to be back in a worse predicament perhaps next year."

Dvorak though, is less optimistic, and says if the cuts to his department aren't cut, he may turn to what he knows best: the law.

"The state statute essentially requires the council to provide funding for the prosecutor's office -- funding in an amount as necessary," he said. "And I suppose the debate may be, what is necessary?"

Dvorak says no one has legally defined exactly what "necessary" means, but he's worried the cuts could cut into what he deems necessary. Still, both he and Morton remain hopeful some other solutions can be reached before the problem ever gets to that point.

That search for solutions will begin Wednesday. Each department will get a letter outlining the updated amount they'll be asked to cut, based on the new larger deficit.

They'll then tell county leaders Friday and Monday if those cuts are realistic. And they'll have to hurry. The council's final budget vote remains September 25.