Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis filed a lawsuit last week against the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. Sheriff Nienhuis referred to a lack of transparency during the budget process.
In a video he posted on social media, he stated, “The law requires commissioners at the end of the budget process to put the Sheriff on notice in writing as to any changes to his or her budget. The final budget hearing took place back on September 20th. And despite the fact we have sent several letters and emails asking them for this information and even provided them with samples from other counties, they still have not complied with the law. Tonight at midnight my new budget is supposed to go into effect. Unfortunately this lack of transparency and communication by the board and their staff have left me no choice but to ask a judge to force them to give me the information that is required by law. ”
The Sheriff’s Office request for a $1.7 million budget increase plus $300,000 to cover the additional reserves needed was not approved. The county states that they would have needed to increase the millage from 6.9912 to 7.2731 to balance the budget and support The Sheriff’s Office request. The millage rate was held at 6.9912 for fiscal year 2017.
The lawsuit may force the county to fully fund the Sheriff’s budget request since proper notification procedures were not followed.
The statute that Sheriff Nienhuis is citing is found in section 30.49(4). It states, in part, “….The board or commission must give written notice of its action to the Sheriff and specify in such notice the specific items amended, modified, increased, or reduced….”