FDLE faced with 40 - 50 layoffs

TALLAHASSEE — The head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Tuesday budget belt-tightening will force 40 to 50 layoffs and make the state pull out all but the biggest drug investigations.

FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said he is meeting with sheriffs and police chiefs to see what they are most willing to give up. He told Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet that the department's most sought-after services, like DNA laboratory work and fingerprint checks, will not be scaled back but that some extremely difficult choices are ahead.

Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, a certified law-enforcement officer, told Bailey that his own inspectors and firefighters are also feeling the pinch of the state's sluggish economy. Bronson said promises to "hold harmless" law enforcement never survive big budget cuts.

Crist recently ordered agencies to impound 4 percent of their operating budgets in anticipation of state revenue collections falling below the already-gloomy projections on which the Legislature based the state budget. State economists have another revenue-estimating conference set for Friday to revise their forecasts.

"There are no decisions I can make there that I will be roundly applauded for," Bailey said at a Cabinet meeting.

He said FDLE has already cut 56 jobs, frozen hiring on 134 vacancies and halted internal promotions. He said he had a meeting set with Sen. Victor Crist, R-Temple Terrace, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations committee, to go over revenue expectations and policy options.

"Even with freezing these positions, when we cut the 4 percent that's coming, I'm looking -- depending on the level of positions -- at somewhere between 40 and 50 live bodies," Bailey said. "I think we've taken care of the fat already, with those 56 that were cut earlier, in fact we got into some muscle with that one."

Bronson said his agency is "right at the breaking point" in staffing 23 agriculture inspection stations. He said the state is losing 25 percent of its fire fighters to local governments every two years, at a training cost of about $77,000 per employee.

"It's going to be tough and I know this budget year won't be much better than last," he said. "I know that saying 'hold 'em harmless' sounds good but I don't think we ever get a chance to hold them harmless when something has to go."

So I 've got friend in other state le agencies....none of those agenices are being asked to cut le positions...WTF???

So what is Miami going to do with the mandated Racinos that must be filled. We are short at least 25-30 agents already and no more hiring... whats going on with the future planning. Agents in task forces like violent crimes and money laundering units have made great strides... now we will be going backwards.. can someone in MGT. explain ? Lets not deal with RUMORS ! A concerned LEO !

Can someone please tell me when these layoffs are going to happen. I want to start making plans

they will probably only give a two week notice b/c as we all know, it only takes a few days to secure a LE job.

they will probably only give a two week notice b/c as we all know, it only takes a few days to secure a LE job.

I hope you aren't serious with that statement....takes a lot longer than a few days

Hopefully they'll get this figured out real soon - it stinks going to work and wondering if its your position that will be eliminated.

This state is a joke and Crist is a liar!!

So I 've got friend in other state le agencies....none of those agenices are being asked to cut le positions...WTF???

Every state agency has cut positions and lost unfilled slots. You are only hearing about DLE because of the press covering the cabinet meeting. Bailey is smart to bring the issue to them. Other agency heads - not so much.
Still - If I was in DROP or a probationary employee, I would be concerned.

They already got rid of some contract employees in my region. The lawn care crew was recently let go and now the duty agent is responsible for mowing the lawn. We also have to take turns cleaning the restrooms and common areas as they got rid of our janitorial services.