Okaloosa County BOCC — July 18, 2016 — Sheriff Letter

S Larry Ashley, Okaloosa County Sheriff Headquarters: 50 2nd Street « Shalimar, Florida 32579-1234 Phone: (850) 651-7410 ¢ Email: sheriff@sheriff-okaloosa.org Sheriff Board of County Commissioners Okaloosa County, Florida Attached is the certified budget proposal for the operation of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for fiscal year 2017. This year’s proposed budget of $36,829,621 represents an increase of $3,300,731 or 9.8% over the current year approved budget. This budget increase is necessary due to the critical need of manpower allocations in all county wide districts, the total of which represents 14 sworn officers and one civilian employee. The 14 sworn positions are needed to reconstitute our street crimes and traffic units which were lost during the FY 2012 budget and forced reduction plan. Both the Street Crimes and Traffic units represent five deputies and one sergeant each. These positions are needed to provide specific concentrations of violence prevention and drug enforcement efforts in high crime areas as well as traffic enforcement on our increasingly crowded roadways. These units will also help provide high call volume support, overtime relief, and backup to assigned patrol districts and deputies. Additionally one sworn court deputy bailiff, one school resource officer and one civilian screener are included both for the temporary court facility and Liza Jackson preparatory school. The need to provide equipped vehicles, computers, body cameras, weapons, uniforms, AED’s and other equipment to these Street Crimes, Traffic, School and Court personnel will increase both the operating and capital outlay budgets. These additional personnel and a 3% cost of living adjustment represent an increase of: $2,689,168 in personnel, $433,659 in capital outlay and $177,903 in operating expenses. We still need to replace many unserviceable patrol vehicles and in-car computers (MCT’s), which until accomplished will continue to deteriorate our fleet and technological capabilities. We believe with gains made in the past two fiscal years we are moving in the right direction in regards to reattaining a 5-6 year vehicle replacement cycle. As our personnel were afforded no pay increases in the current year there is a $700,000 projected increase included in the personnel budget proposal which represents a 3% personnel COLA. We are also at the end of our four year COPS grant allocation of $467,000 annually. Due to the grant match requirement, we are required to maintain the 10 personnel partially covered under this grant allocation. Again we are faced with a state mandated FRS increase and are still in need of both Beach and Marine Patrol units in our East District. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. “The Okaloosa County Sherift’s Office provides equal access and equal opportunity in employment and services and does not discriminate” This budget provides funding to ensure that statutory requirements are met, vehicles are replaced and positions are filled for the continued provision of basic law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of Okaloosa County and for meeting the additional demands for services created by an increasing residential and tourist population. These proposed expenditures are reasonable and necessary for the efficient operation of the Office of Sheriff for the ensuing year. " Larry Ashley, Sheriff STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF OKALOOSA Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27" day of May, 2016, by Larry Ashley who is personally known to me. %, DEBRA BARRINEAU ~ W a 5%‘% ae SFA Commission # FF 079678 5§ Expires February 10, 2018 5 N7 /o W' Bonded Thru Troy Fain Insurance 800-385-7019 Debra Barrineau Notary Public, State of Florida