EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso County Commissioners asked each and every department to make massive cuts to their budgets, adding up to 5 percent across the board.

The county auditor said the county will be $11.5 million in the red, and in order to make up that deficit without raising taxes, a 5.2 percent cut in expenditures must be made.

Commissioners are asking each and every department, including the sheriff's office, how they can make the cuts.

Most commissioners are looking at what can be done on non-mandated departments first, then mandated departments, and if they are still short they will look into raising taxes.

Some commissioners KFOX spoke with said this large of a cut will most likely mean lost jobs, something these commissioners had to deal with last year.

"We're they difficult decisions, yes. But were they good, business decisions, yes," said Commissioner Veronica Escobar.

Escobar said all kinds of revenues are down from sales tax to such things as filings for divorces and lawsuits.