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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 for their management of the Sheriff's office and Emergency Services during periods of financial constraint. He criticized the Sheriff for presenting budget reductions in a misleading manner, clarifying that the actual budget was $78 million. Commissioner Earman questioned the necessity of zero -based budgeting to ensure adequate funding for essential services while also noting his preference for incremental budgeting based on historical financial data. Administrator Titkanich indicated that zero -based budgeting would be implemented selectively in response to current economic challenges. Commissioner Earman raised concerns regarding the proposed $12 million budget increase by the Sheriff, characterizing it as excessive in the absence of prior consultation. He recommended a budget increase of $6 to $7 million and emphasized the need for transparent communication to prevent the spread of misinformation. Although he supported salary increases for Deputies, he advocated for a phased implementation. Commissioner Earman further stated that if the Sheriff persisted with the higher budget proposal, the issue would require escalation to State Authorities in Tallahassee. Chairman Flescher stated he had not had a private meeting with the Sheriff about his budget, which was unusual. He addressed concerns about misinformation, saying many comments at the Budget Workshop meeting were not true. He commented that there were no Deputies at the UP Center and no significant movement of officers to other jurisdictions, contrary to reports. Regarding the claim that school lunches were being taken for families, it was not happening. He added that while this might have sounded good for media stories, it did not reflect the actual situation. Commissioner Adams stated that the additional funding proposed by Administrator Titkanich for the Sheriff s budget would enable a targeted focus on payroll increases. This allocation constituted a significant increase compared to the current budget and was expected to facilitate the Sheriffs ability to address primary operational priorities. The increased resources would provide the Sheriff with flexibility to allocate funds toward employee salaries, technology upgrades, or other essential departmental needs. Commissioner Moss emphasized that the Sheriffs request aimed to serve the community. She advocated on behalf of the deputies. Although a 6% budget increase was proposed, this amount would not meet the Sheriff's original request. She stressed the foundational role of law and order in supporting governmental operations and cultural institutions. Commissioner Moss indicated a willingness to consider additional budget reductions to achieve a 6.852% increase. Chairman Flescher and Administrator Titkanich discussed budget cuts affecting various services, especially funding for the Mental Health Court and Animal Services. Indian River County, Florida Page 4