Commissioner Linda Stewart, (District 4) sent a letter to Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty on Wednesday asking that the Sheriff’s budget not be cut and that some compromise be worked out.
Stewart, who is one of the candidates in the Orange County mayoral race, was reacting to a communication sent by Crotty to Sheriff Jerry Demings, insisting that the Sheriff’s office cut its 2010/2011 $184 million budget by 5 percent, including implementing a one week furlough of staff.
“I am writing to inform you of my deep concern for the proposed 5% cut to the Sheriff’s budget,” Stewart’s letter stated. “We all know that public safety is a top priority for our residents and for everyone on our Board.”
Demings had recently outlined to the Orange County Board the several negative implications arising from further budget cuts which included: the elimination of crime prevention programs in targeted areas;, elimination of support staff; the perception of less safe communities and the likely negative impact on tourism due to the potential increase in crime.
Pointing to the recent success in crime reduction, largely on account of increased numbers of deputies on the street, Stewart observed that it would be difficult for her to support a budget reduction for the Sheriff’s Office.
“I believe the Sheriff has already made a good-faith effort to be a responsible steward of the taxpayer’s dollars by voluntary returning $1.4 million dollars of unused funds from his budget to the County general fund,” Stewart said.
Noting the potential increase in health-care costs and increased pension benefits payments that the Sheriff’s 2010/11 budget would likely have to absorb, Stewart urged that the Sheriff’s budget not be cut.
Stewart declined to say in her letter how the current proposed budget of the Sheriff’s office might be sustained.
