Michelle Woodfork has five months before she’ll take office as the next Orleans Parish Sheriff, but she’s already staring down huge challenges of the job, including concerns about how she’ll afford to staff a new mental health wing at the troubled parish jail .

Construction on the $92 million wing is more than 85% complete, and the so-called Phase III facility is scheduled to open a few months after Woodfork’s inauguration in May. With the city’s budget in shambles, however, Woodfork does not know how OPSO will have enough money to staff the facility, which could require hiring as many as 80 new deputies.

The sheriff’s budget is likely in line for a cut as City Hall faces a $160 million deficit, though it’s not clear yet how much money Woodfork stands to lose. Outgoing Mayor LaToya

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