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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final July 9, 2025 prolonged usage of reserves could lead to severe service cuts, as had happened in other communities across the state. Administrator Titkanich discussed preparations for the future, particularly the years 2027 and 2028. While he acknowledged ongoing residential developments and new construction projects, he noted that building permit revenues had decreased by approximately 19%, alongside a decline in impact fees. He stressed that expert economic forecasts had not accounted for potential changes in how the State Legislature and the Governor might alter local funding mechanisms, with factors such as tariffs adding to financial uncertainties. He stated that preparedness was essential, which justified the allocation set aside to avert issues encountered in the past. He noted that an initial funding request had fallen short, but an additional $1.3 million had been secured beyond the original recommendation, although this amount was still considered inadequate. Administrator Titkanich mentioned that raising salaries to $60,000 would be achievable with a budget of $6,079,000. He proposed a salary increase of $9,381, applying a multiplier to cover benefits, and estimated approximately $5.28 million for sworn officers and $831,000 for civilian positions. Overall, he acknowledged the complexities in addressing these salary needs without delving into specific line items of the Sheriffs budget. Chairman Flescher highlighted the significant funding allocated to the Sheriffs Office over the past three years, amounting to nearly $18.92 million. He discussed the Sheriffs focus on addressing issues like pay compression, starting salaries, and cost -of -living adjustments for law enforcement personnel. Chairman Flescher acknowledged the challenge of retaining staff due to competition from other jurisdictions, emphasizing the need for a strategic plan to improve salaries while also considering the local economy. He voiced concerns about changing the millage rate, suggesting that it would negatively impact the community, and called for alternative solutions to enhance compensation for law enforcement to retain experienced individuals. Vice Chairman Loar raised concerns about the employee benefit package, specifically regarding health insurance. Administrator Titkanich confirmed that health insurance costs per employee had remained stable for several years and highlighted the competitive nature of their package, which included vision and dental care, long-term disability benefits, and access to a free employee health clinic for basic care and prescriptions. Vice Chairman Loar also addressed concerns about salary compression issues, stating that there would be no such issue since each grade would receive an additional $10,000. He emphasized that the formula used for salary Indian River County, Florida Page 13