Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott has submitted the Sheriff’s Office proposed budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 to the Board of County Commissioners.\u00a0 This year’s request asks for $4.8 million dollars more than the current approved fiscal year budget, a 3.6% increase, totaling\u00a0$142,587,468 dollars.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Commission Chairman Cecil Pendergrass, Sheriff Scott said, “With this time of economic uncertainty that all local governments are facing, we have worked\u00a0diligently with the County Commissioners and County Administrators to help reduce our past budgets, but have come to the realization that certain mitigating issues will not allow for a reduction this fiscal year.”\u00a0 The Sheriff notes half of the increase is because of a 5% jump in the employer contribution required by the Florida Retirement System.<\/p>\n
The budget proposal includes funding for 1,536 positions, of which, 1,047 are in the high-risk, certified deputy categories of\u00a0law enforcement, corrections and court services.\u00a0 Sheriff Scott added,\u00a0“Based on our current market analysis data, it is evident that our employees are paid significantly below the market rate; therefore, we are requesting a merit increase to adjust our current employee\u2019s salaries.” The increase would be\u00a03% across the board.<\/p>\n
Other\u00a0factors\u00a0generating the\u00a0need for additional funding include\u00a0a rise in\u00a0maintenance costs due to retention of older vehicles and boat motors.\u00a0\u00a0Inmate medical costs are also on the rise.\u00a0\u00a0The proposed budget does not include adding School Resource Officers to local elementary schools.\u00a0 That topic is planned for a special meeting scheduled with the Board of County Commissioners on\u00a0June 17, 2013.<\/p>\n