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Public Safety- Sheriff's Budget Request A safe and secure community is the bedrock of a high quality of life. To that end, the Board of County Commissioners and County Administration keep the Sheriff's Office and Emergency Services (Fire Rescue and Emergency Management) at to forefront of essential services provided to Indian River County residents. The Indian River County Sheriff's Office is requesting a total budget of $93,547,675 (all funds, excluding electric) for FY 2025/2026, reflecting a $14,635,720 or 18.5% increase. The Board of County Commissioners and County Administration have consistently shown strong support for law enforcement and community safety. The chart below illustrates the past 12 years of originally approved budgets and the Sheriff's requested budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Since the post - Great Recession revenue growth began in 2014, the Indian River County Sheriff's Office budget has grown by 43.1%, or $17,192,831, over eightyears. Sheriff Flowers inherited a $57.1 million budget in FY 2020/2021, which has since risen by 38.3%, or $21,835,155, over the past four years. If approved at the requested amount, the Indian River County Sheriff's Office budget will have surged 63.9% since FY 2020/2021. Orginally Approved Budget with FY 25-26 Request $100 ...._ ...._-----...... _.___., $90 $80 $70 $60 „ FY20121- FY25126 c 0 - 63.996 Increase $50 E $ao FY 13/14 - FY20/21 43.196 Increase $30 $20 $10 $0 5 1 O 0 h 6 14b 11\1 14116 '1\ 1 ^^�. 11� 1 19�`l, ryO�ry ry, ry��L ry3�`L ryp1`Y ryy11L The County's General Fund propertytaxable valuation is increasing 8.8% which willgenerate an additional$8.68 million in ad valorem revenues. Even if the County for BOCC funded operations, along with all other Constitutional Offices, and state -mandated agencies, maintain current budget levels, it would be impossible to accommodate the Sheriff's full budget request without raising millage rates or cutting other budgets. Fundingthe Sheriff's budget requestwould prevent the County's budget from being balanced, leading to a deficit of $9,901,003. The County's General Fund millage is 3.5475 mills, of which the Sheriff's budget accounts for 1.8553 mills or 52.3%. Additionally, forthe unincorporated areathe County Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) is 1.1506 mills and the Sheriff's budget accounts for 0.6674 mills, or 58.0%, of the MSTU. Using budget stabilization and reserves for recurring costs isn'tjustified given the circumstances the Countyfaces on the horizon. About 72.4% of General Fund expenses are tied to mandates, including funding our Constitutional Officers and certain state offices funded proportionally to the services provided to Indian River County. These state offices include the 191h Judicial Circuit Court Administration, the State Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Medical Examiner's Office, and the Guardian Ad Litem's Office. This year, the Sheriff's budget alone accounts for 52.3% of General Fund expenses. Excludingthe Sheriff's allocation a0 mandated funding for our other Constitutional Offices and state agencies, the Indian River County Board of County