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Sheriff Law Enforcement N•�n �. jeriff «1G� GARY C. WHEELER • INDIAN RIVER COUNTY MEMBER FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION MEMBER OF NATIONAL SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION 4055 41st AVENUE VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32960-1608 PHONE 407-569-6700 Honorable John Tlppin, Chair Board of County Commissioners May 1, 1994 1840 25th Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Dear Commissioner Tippin: In compliance with Florida State Statues, Chapter 30.49, 1 hereby submit our proposed 1994-1995 annual budget for Law Enforcement. The budget was prepared under the following considerations. Since we had only six months' experience under our first zero based budget, the same zero based techniques were used to prepare this budget. My orders to my staff in preparing the final draft were to eliminate staff requests for fourteen additional personnel Including restoration of personnel lost in last years' budget cuts with the exception of the School Resource Program (SRO). In that program, we have restored the two positions cut among the nine total positions we lost last year. We added an additional SRO position to cover Sebastian River High School and a supervisor position for the SRO and new Juvenile investigations unit we were mandated last year. I am still hopeful -that the Indian River School Board will provide relief through Safe Schools' funds anticipated from the state. We cut staff request for fleet replacement by 50 percent In order to keep capital expenses as flat as possible. This budget reflects a 2.90 percent increase over last years revised budget. As has been the case for the last four years, there is no cost of living increase Included for our employees. In Law Enforcement, there are fifty-two employees that are not eligible for merit raises and their Income has been slowly eroding since 1990. Personnel resources are our most important asset and they deserve relief from the Commission in this area. I am requesting the Board of County Commissioners to fund a three percent cost of living Increase over and above our pay plan to correct the inequities suffered by our employees since 1990. In our budget process, we employed an outside citizen's committee review Including representatives from the . Tax Payers Association, and Enuff is Enuff government watch organization. While we did our best to maintain our level of services, I am concerned about the impact of commercial growth including the new outlet mall, the new Indian River Mall, Waimart, SAM's, the South Beach Publix store, and the Disney project on further stretching our law enforcement services. No new law enforcement personnel resources have been added to - the patrol function of Uniform Division since 1987. In the interim, serious crime has escalated fifty percent since 1987 and unincorporated population has increased fifteen percent. In our unincorporated area, there were 1698 more serious crimes in 1993 than 1987. This year we lost an additional law enforcement position when I recently had to transfer a position to the court house to fill urgent security needs. Personnel have periodically been moved internally in the past beginning in the last administration to meet program requirements such as Victims Assistance, School Resource, Crime Prevention, Community Oriented Police Unit, and our most recent mandated program, Juvenile Investigations. As these programs have come on board, the Detention Division has been reduced to backfill reductions in patrol operations further stretching resources. Our employees throughout the Sheriff's Office and I have very carefully managed our resources this year. Short of further cuts In personnel, programs and services, we have prepared this budget in the spirit requested by the Commission consistent with low expectations in increased revenues. Your favorable consideration of my request, as submitted, is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Gary C. Wheeler, Sheriff 7 Pou 92 PAGE 402