A vote on the proposed Sheriff’s Office MSTU Ordinance took place at the BOCC meeting Tuesday March 28th, followed by a vote on resolving the Sheriff’s FY 2016 budget dispute. The MSTU ordinance was quickly voted down, while commissioners agreed unanimously to approve a resolution for the Sheriff’s Office budget dispute.
Commissioner Wayne Dukes opened the hearing to a large crowd by reviewing events from the last three years. Dukes explained that because property taxes were not raised in 2017, budget requests that were sent in by county staff were asked to be reduced by $6 million. The Sheriff initially asked for a $1.7-million budget increase, and at that point a source for these fundsas needed. Dukes met with county budget staff about options to meet the request and recommendations were to take it from reserves, or the MSTU.
Dukes reminded attendees and the board that the purpose of the March 28th meeting was for discussion of the subject, and went on to poll the members of the BOCC. All except Nick Nicholson voted ‘no’ for the MSTU ordinance.
Following the vote, John Mitten acknowledged and thanked the members of the public who came to the meeting. He also thanked the staff who were involved in making the resolution work. Mitten went on to call the process leading to the March 28th meeting “troubling at times,” and mentioning that the issue has come to the BOCC three times in the last 18 months, and each time, the Sheriff was not notified until public notices were posted.
The issue of solving the Sheriff’s budget dispute was then addressed. Pamela Lee spoke about the specifics of the funds that could cover the Sheriff’s requested budget, $1.2 million of which will come from the balance forward from 2016. Lee said “the books have not officially been closed,” but she was comfortable in stating to the commission that the money will be available.
Nick Nicholson spoke about other needs for the county, specifically citing that the Demolition Fund has no money to demolish unsafe structures. According to Nicholson, the fund receives $200,000 a year, however he knows of at least 30-40 unsafe structures slated for demolition, but that there is “no money in the budget to demolish even one.”
Pamela Lee explained in more detail how the $1.2 million will be allocated to the Sheriff’s Office, and that the money will not be coming from reserves, but there will be an “actual resolution recognizing the $1.2 (million) for the Sheriff.” When Lee’s office reviews mid-year adjustments, the remainder of the Sheriff’s requested budget increase should be resolved. The budget recommendation was passed unanimously.
On further discussion, Commissioner Dukes reminded the board that taxes have not been raised in the past three years, and conveyed his concern that taking money from one department to satisfy another will not be able to continue in the future. Nick Nicholson agreed with these concerns, mentioning also that he does not agree with taking money from employment retirement funds, raising taxes or using reserves.
Steve Champion reminded Nick Nicholson that he in fact, did vote for a tax increase in the past by not voting for a recent roll-back. Champion reasoned that the economy has improved and that the subject of raising taxes will need to addressed again should the Sheriff or Emergency services need additional funding in the future.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis publicly thanked everyone involved in the resolution. Mentioning that this was his fourth time addressing the board about this issue, he invited the BOCC to discuss these matters with him personally in the future.
On June 6th, 2017, there will be a workshop on the entire county budget. The workshop will take place at 20 North Main Street – Room 263, Brooksville.