save money???? St. Pete Beach police make scraps for a salary. You think the sheriffs department is cheaper? You are kidding me right? They charge for everything. Prepare for increased taxes just to cover your little beach. Oh ya, what about the public safety aspect. Thats right, wait until 911 is called and the time of response is longer because there are fewer officers. I predict increased burglaries, increased violent crimes, and higher taxes. You get what you pay for.
The SO's budget comes from the county not from the cities it serves. An SO takeover would eliminate most of the overlapping management positions and save money in the long run. Service and response time would be improved because the SO has better support infrastructure.