JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Sheriff John Rutherford has responded to a mandate to cut 10 percent -- nearly $33 million -- from his budget next year, saying it can't be done without reducing the number of police officers by 308.

"Our priority has been and continues to be to keeping officers on the street," Mayor John Peyton said when the city budget process began.

In a letter Rutherford sent to Peyton on Wednesday, the sheriff urged the mayor to consider deeper cuts to non-public-safety departments so that "the City's budgetary shortfall could be met without the layoff of police, corrections and essential civilian personnel."

Rutherford was out Thursday due to a death in his family, but a spokeswoman told Channel 4's Jim Piggott that cutting personnel is a worst-case scenario.

"Layoffs of sworn and essential personnel are a last resort to meet mandated budget cuts," said Lauri-Ellen Smith of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

In his letter to the mayor, Rutherford lists other cuts he wants to see first, including selling off police aircraft, boats and unmarked police cars, as well as saving money by reducing administrative costs like dues and fees. He also proposed cutting civilian staff, but draws the line at cutting officers.

Asked about the sheriff's letter, Peyton said laying off police officers is not an option at this point.

"The challenge is how do we find savings, perhaps on the administrative side -- the bureaucracy," Peyton said. "How do we save money and not reduce service -- that is the challenge."