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Commissioner O'Bryan appreciated the job the Sheriff was doing; however, he shared <br />Commissioner Solari's concerns of looking out for taxpayers in a difficult year. He suggested <br />that funding be provided for ten of the twenty Corrections vacancies, providing the Sheriff with <br />the flexibility to add more officers as needed, but not requiring the taxpayers to pay for "ghost <br />positions" which are not yet filled. Commissioner O'Bryan also asked the Sheriff to consider <br />making reductions by combining some of the administrative positions, such as purchasing and <br />finance, with County staff. <br />Sheriff Loar believed that consolidating positions would result in some serious problems, <br />and he explained why he could not agree with eliminating ten of the Deputy Sheriff vacancies. <br />Administrator Baird disclosed that the cost for the ten Corrections positions would be <br />about $60,000 per entry-level position. <br />Vice Chairman Flescher affirmed the Sheriff's belief that the inmate population could <br />readily increase, and preferred to provide him with the budget and the ability to adapt and change <br />quickly. He also wanted to see more of the 911 surtax go to the Sheriff. <br />Staff advised that pursuant to Florida Statutes, the 911 funds could be used only for call <br />takers, and not dispatchers. <br />Vice Chairman Flescher wanted to give the Sheriff the opportunity to take advantage of <br />the 911 funds, and Director Brown divulged that two more call takers would cost an estimated <br />$80,000 of the $113,000 in the 911 fund. <br />Sheriff Loar suggested utilizing the $44.8 million in reserve money, to continue the level <br />of services, pointing out that under staff's proposal, the Sheriff would be operating under <br />July 23, 2009 19 <br />