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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final July 9, 2025 Sheriffs request. To manage costs, Administrator Titkanich proposed a multiplier for expenses associated with sworn officers, resulting in about $6.1 million needed to address salary concerns. Strategies to mitigate costs included deferring capital expenses and trimming specific budget items, such as funding for the animal shelter. However, this potentially would result in safety concerns for the community. Additionally, Road Maintenance, which would not be able to address the backlog being experienced. He also discussed the Mental Health Court's funding needs, suggesting collaboration with human services while emphasizing the importance of maintaining mental health services to alleviate pressure on the criminal justice system. Administrator Titkanich addressed the topic of the 28 County positions under discussion, noting that five of these positions were funded by the General Fund, while the others were supported by various funds and not through ad valorem taxes. He emphasized that it would not be appropriate for utility customers to fund a general fund employee, nor was it fair to use the general fund to supplement the sheriffs funding. He pointed out that residents in unincorporated areas and MSTUs were already paying for services provided outside their regions, creating a need for a balancing act in funding decisions. Administrator Titkanich expressed optimism about rounding up the funding to $6.1 million but maintained a cautious approach, considering the Sheriffs substantial operational demands. The proposed increases warranted careful evaluation, as some were significant enough that their implications were clear at a glance, without requiring a detailed examination. Administrator Titkanich highlighted growing concerns over the past three years regarding whether these funding increases would translate into employee raises. Two years prior, he had addressed these concerns by agreeing to $5.7 million increase, with the Sheriffs assurance that there would be no reversal of that commitment. Feedback from the community at that time indicated clear support for the Board's decision, entrusting the Sheriff to manage the allocated funds as promised. He noted that the exceptional provision allowing fund transfers within the Sheriffs Office did not extend to other Constitutional offices. When discussing reserves, Administrator Titkanich clarified that the belief in having $600 million was mistaken. The combined total from the MSTU and the General Fund was approximately $102.5 million, with a significant portion restricted, non -spendable, or committed, leaving only a small amount unassigned. He compared the situation to continually withdrawing from a savings account, warning that Indian River County, Florida Page 12