HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/6/1989SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, July 6, 1989
The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County,
Florida, met in Special Session at the County Commission
Chambers, 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Thursday,
July 6, 1989, at 9:00 o'clock A.M. Present were Gary C. Wheeler,
Chairman; Carolyn K. Eggert, Vice Chairman; Richard N. Bird;
Margaret C. Bowman; and Don C. Scurlock, Jr. Also present were
James E. Chandler, County Administrator; Charles P. Vitunac,
Attorney to the Board of County Commissioners; Joseph Baird, OMB
Director; and Barbara Bonnah, Deputy Clerk.
The Chairman called the meeting to order.
REVIEW OF SHERIFF'S BUDGET FOR FY -89/90
Sheriff Tim Dobeck was accompanied by Under Sheriff Roy
Raymond and Business Manager Ricky Dees.
Commissioner Scurlock's preference was not to go line item
by line item today as he and OMB Director Joe Baird had met with
Sheriff Dobeck and discussed budget figures at great length. He
appreciated the Sheriff's cooperation in providing more detailed
P information. He emphasized that one thing that the Commission
has to do that the individual constitutional officers do not have
to do is to balance the budgets for all the county departments,
more or less.
Commissioner Scurlock wanted to talk more in terms of
philosophy and how much of an overall percentage the Commission
feels the community can afford, and see if we can get some
agreement today.
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Commissioner Bird also preferred to deal more in general
percentages, but didn't feel that he could give the final go
ahead on anything today since the Board has not reviewed the
budgets from other county departments as yet.
Delving into budget figures, it was noted that the Sheriff's
original budget request was for a 34% increase over the current
year, but that was pared down to a 25% increase in early May,._
The 25% increase would allow hiring 24 new employees, including 9
road deputies. It was noted that Florida law allows elected
constitutional officers to appeal their budgets to the Governor
and Cabinet.
Specific Items of Discussion
1. he merits of aving the Sheriff's annual budget increase
based on a per capita basis.
2. Staffing needs and the total salary package, including
retirement and insurance costs.
3. Differences in salaries for law enforcement officers, record
clerks, and dispatch operators.
4. Overtime costs vs. hiring new people. Sheriff said that by
adding the Fire Department, it has caused $83,000 in
overtime.
5. Cost of maintenance contracts on computer equipment.
6. No provisions at the Jail for incarcerating juveniles who are
waiting to be tried as adults.
After considerable debate regarding the feasibility of
establishing a Sheriff's budget coordination committee, Attorney
Vitunac advised that he didn't feel it would be a good idea
because their meetings would be required to be held publicly with
notice and minutes, which might be too cumbersome.
Chairman Wheeler emphasized that we go through this same
frustration every year, and suggested that next year we use
a per capita base of whatever it comes out to, and then based on
the population increase each year, the Sheriff would get a set
increase based on that plus an inflation figure. The Legislature
does that for the Commissioners' salary and other constitutional
officers.
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Commissioner Scurlock didn't feel there were any simplistic
solutions to the budget review process, but agreed that it is a
difficult task to look at all our departments and try to come up
with what the community needs and can afford. He believed the
minimum,increase the Sheriff should have this year is 180.
Commissioner Bird noted that population growth affects all
departments of the county, but even with the cutbacks, the
Sheriff's Dept. has received a higher rate of increase than the
others.
Sheriff Dobeck didn't agree that population growth impacts
the county departments equally.
Commissioner Bird, in order to be fair, wanted to reserve
comment until he sees the rest of the county budgets.
Commissioner Scurlock noted that this is just a workshop
meeting today where we can get some idea of what the Sheriff
needs.
Commissioner Eggert suggested that the Sheriff come up with
a 5 -year long-range plan and present it to a workshop, and the
Sheriff thought it would be helpful to see what the Commission's
idea of increased growth, what funding they think would be
available, and if there are other sources of funding out there
for some of these areas.
Commissioner Bird just suggested that we leave the door open
to the Sheriff for a future workshop on long-range goals and
budget needs, and just have the Commission more involved and more
knowledgeable with the situation over there.
The Sheriff repeated his invitation to the Commissioners to
come over and ask any questions they might have so that he might
provide that information to them. However, he expected the
Commissioners to have more questions of his operation than he
would have of theirs.
Chairman Wheeler stated that he could support some sort of
formula, and maybe have some kind of panel to work with the
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Sheriff, where we could have some confidence that what he is
doing and what the County is doing are the correct things to do.
He suggested that the TRIM notices state how much an individual
taxpayer is giving toward the Sheriff's Department, the County.,
the Hospital District, the Mosquito District, etc., and the Board
indicated that might be a good idea.
Sheriff Dobeck emphasized that the current proposal of $14
million, a 21.5% increase, would cost taxpayers about 55 cents in
taxes per day. He felt that if people aren't willing to pay
cigarette money for law enforcement, there's something wrong with
society.
Commissioner Scurlock had no question that Sheriff Dobeck
has consistently tried to do the best he can do to give quality
law enforcement to this county.
Commissioner Bird recommended, and the Board agreed, that
they review the Sheriff's budget again at the appropriate time
during the budget workshops later this month, and, hopefully,
arrive at a final figure at that time.
There being no further business, on Motion duly made,
seconded and carried, the Board adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
ATTEST:
Clerk Chairman
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