08/11/2025 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 office.] County Administrator John Titkanich summarized the Budget Workshop with a PowerPoint presentation. The proposed budget for the Sheriffs Office totaled $83,646,672, reflecting a $4,734,717 or 6% increase from the previous year. He emphasized that the discussion today was focused on managing the proposed increase rather than reducing the Sheriffs budget. During the July 9, 2025, meeting, the Board directed the Administrator to identify additional funding for the Sheriffs Office without raising the millage rate. The Sheriffs Office had initially requested a $14.6 million increase, which would have resulted in a total budget of $93.5 million. Administrator Titkanich reported on ongoing efforts to address budgetary constraints. In a recent meeting, the Sheriff and Administrator discussed a revised budget increase of approximately $6 million, compared to the earlier proposal of $4.7 million. On July 23, 2025, the Sheriff submitted a $91.1 million budget, representing a $12.2 million or 15.5% increase. Administrator Titkanich identified sources of additional funding through proposed reductions, including eliminating a full-time Parks Department position, reducing Conservation Lands staff, and converting a Guest Services Attendant position to part-time. The Facilities Master Plan would be managed internally by the Facilities Manager and two directors. Funding for the Humane Society would also be reduced, as the County anticipated that the animal sheltering contract might not require payment for the entire year in full. Administrator Titkanich reported that funds were allocated to entities such as the Courts and Mental Health Services to support individuals with mental health needs, including those requiring hospitalization under the Baker Act. The Court Administration requested nearly $151,994 in revised budget funding. The Hospital District was still preparing to vote on its budget for Mental Health Services related to the Mental Health Court. He noted that the Sheriffs Department accounted for 52.3% of the budget. His presentation compared budget requests over the past four years, with $21.8 million in approved funding. He cited previous years with limited budgets, such as 2022, when $2.9 million was allocated, and an additional $7.3 million was provided, including funds from the Emergency Relief Package. He stated that the Board consistently prioritized public safety, particularly support for the Sheriffs office. He also provided an overview of salary increases for Civilian Staff and Law Enforcement Officers over the past three years. Vice Chairman Loar requested clarification regarding the potential outcomes if the Sheriff did not receive the requested funding, highlighting uncertainty in the Indian River County, Florida Page 2