CROWN POINT | The Lake County Council gave Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez permission Wednesday to buy a new $2.2 million helicopter on the strength of his promise to cut deeply into the rest of his budget.

The county will buy an EC120 manufactured by American Eurocopter, of Grant Prairie, Texas, through a seven-year lease-purchase plan. The helicopter is to be purchased with non-tax dollars including casino funds, fees collected by the sheriff in mortgage foreclosures, federal grant money and the sale of existing helicopters.

The council voted 5-2 to commit the county to upgrading Dominguez's helicopter fleet in the face of an austerity budget that likely will result in layoffs and service cuts to make up an expected $15 million shortfall in property taxes.

"Obviously, this couldn't have come at a worse time," said Councilman Tom O'Donnell, D-Dyer.

Dominguez said he needed a commitment by Friday or would have lost a 20 percent discount offered by the manufacturer as well as a $444,000 federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.

Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, who voted against the measure, complained, "When I ask other department heads to cut their budget, they tell me the sheriff hasn't cut anything, and now he wants a helicopter. I'd like to see the sheriff's cuts in his 2009 budget first."

She asked why the county couldn't buy a used helicopter when the need arose.

But O'Donnell countered that they wouldn't ask the police to drive to a crime scene in a taxi.

"This is a public safety issue," the sheriff said, adding that Gary has grounded its helicopters because of budget concerns.

Council members Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, and Jerome Prince, D-Gary, supported the sheriff.

"Public safety for Gary is non-negotiable," Prince said.

Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, who voted for the helicopter, said he was undecided until he learned of the lease-purchase plan. He warned Dominguez he will have to respond with significant cuts in his current $14.7 million budget.