BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A day after 60 Kern County Sheriff's employees were told they will be laid off, the detention deputies association president voiced concerns about what will happen to the safety of county residents.

"For every detention deputy you lay off, you have to take patrol deputies off the streets that will be protecting the constituents of Kern County," said Kern County Detention Officers' Association President Kevin Dees on Wednesday.

County supervisors granted Sheriff Donny Youngblood his request for $4 million to fill a budget gap on Tuesday. The money means 560 inmates will not be given early releases and 45 detention deputies, instead of 93, got lay off notices. Fifteen civilian employees also got layoff notices.

Even so, Youngblood said he needs to lay off 45 detention deputies and back fill those positions with patrol deputies who are normally on the street.

Youngblood said it would take an additional $3.7 million to keep the 45 deputies employed, but he said they're looking for ways to come up with that money.

One deputy who spoke on condition of anonymity said he's worried about what the cuts are going to mean for the safety of county residents. He said all families will need to "be careful where you go at night, (and) don't go out by yourself."

Youngblood said it was difficult to decide to lay off employees.

"I am not the sheriff for myself, (and) I am not it for the detention deputies or deputies," Youngblood said. "I'm the sheriff for the public, and sometimes that requires tough decisions. That's where we're at right now."