08-02-2013, 11:56 AM
Jay Meisel | Highlands Today
Published: August 2, 2013
SEBRING -During some shifts, some areas of Highlands County may not get routine patrol coverage from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.
And, sometimes, when people seek a response, they may not see a deputy for 45 minutes, where it may have been typically 10 minutes previously.
Deputies seeking backup may have to wait, as well, or seek help from another agency.
Those are situations that Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said earlier this week have happened after years of keeping a tight budget.
Just the other day, she said, she heard on the radio a deputy asking for backup from the Sebring Police Department.
"That happens all the time," Benton added.
Benton, who is seeking a budget increase at a time when the county faces a $6 million shortfall in revenue verses budget requests , said she has kept costs down by delaying filling or not hiring for vacant positions and making due with less.
"We've been very frugal," she said, and doesn't believe her budget can be cut more or that she can't continue to operate indefinitely with 27 open positions.
"We're not going to put our deputies any more at risk than I absolutely have to," she added.
But whether the county accommodates the sheriff's request remains an open question.
County Commissioner Jack Richie said he believes the sheriff's office has done a good job keeping costs low and fighting crime.
He noted the sheriff's office successfully investigated cases where criminals used vacant houses to grow marijuana, and this week was instrumental in helping to bust a cargo theft ring.
When the commission makes budget decisions, "this is where common sense has to come into play," he said. "We cannot cut back on the sheriff to the point where crime is going to increase."
Still, the commission is going to have to listen to all sides and different departments before making decisions, Richie added.
Commissioner Don Elwell said he "sympathizes with the sheriff's difficulties and the difficulties faced by other constitutional officers."
At the same time, he added, the county faces a situation where "we have less money coming in than we did last year."
Elwell said he opposes raising taxes to deal with the problem and believes the county needs to stop taking money from reserves.
"We are way overdue in trying to match our budget with the changes in revenues," he said, adding that people do that in their personal lives.
Benton is seeking to have her budget increased from $22.6 million to $23.7 million, a 4.57 percent increase. She said that covers increased costs, such as increased retirement expenses resulting from changes in state law and overtime because of low staffing.
She said she has 27 vacancies and has been able to save money by keeping positions vacant and using savings from that for where the money is needed.
But with the increasing overtime and other costs, that's no longer a solution, Benton maintained. If more major incidents occur where there's a lot of overtime, her budget could run out of money, she said.
In the past years, she said, she kept her budget as low as possible to help commissioners with the budget situation and avoid a tax increase.
Budget issues are not the only reason why positions have remained vacant, the sheriff said.
When people apply they have to meet certain standards and they have to pass a polygraph test.
"We have the hardest time of them getting through the polygraph, she said.
Benton said her first priority is filling dispatcher spots. She said the existing staff typically works overtime and handles extra duties.
Another issue that Benton raised is that more money is allocated to services provided by departments under the Board of County Commissioners than the sheriff's office. She said most of the county employees work 8-5 jobs and that the offices are closed at night, while the sheriff's office runs 24 hours a day, not only resulting in more personnel costs, but also costs involving wear and tear on vehicles, computers and other equipment.
Elwell and Richie agreed the sheriff has a point.
But Elwell also said the services from other constitutional officers besides the sheriff are important.
He said the county needs to review each budget and compare it with previous years that are comparable and find an equitable solution.
"I'm hopeful we can work together to find a solution," he said. "We're all working toward the same goal. It's just a matter of how you get there."
jmeisel@highlandstoday.com
(863) 386-5834
Published: August 2, 2013
SEBRING -During some shifts, some areas of Highlands County may not get routine patrol coverage from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.
And, sometimes, when people seek a response, they may not see a deputy for 45 minutes, where it may have been typically 10 minutes previously.
Deputies seeking backup may have to wait, as well, or seek help from another agency.
Those are situations that Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said earlier this week have happened after years of keeping a tight budget.
Just the other day, she said, she heard on the radio a deputy asking for backup from the Sebring Police Department.
"That happens all the time," Benton added.
Benton, who is seeking a budget increase at a time when the county faces a $6 million shortfall in revenue verses budget requests , said she has kept costs down by delaying filling or not hiring for vacant positions and making due with less.
"We've been very frugal," she said, and doesn't believe her budget can be cut more or that she can't continue to operate indefinitely with 27 open positions.
"We're not going to put our deputies any more at risk than I absolutely have to," she added.
But whether the county accommodates the sheriff's request remains an open question.
County Commissioner Jack Richie said he believes the sheriff's office has done a good job keeping costs low and fighting crime.
He noted the sheriff's office successfully investigated cases where criminals used vacant houses to grow marijuana, and this week was instrumental in helping to bust a cargo theft ring.
When the commission makes budget decisions, "this is where common sense has to come into play," he said. "We cannot cut back on the sheriff to the point where crime is going to increase."
Still, the commission is going to have to listen to all sides and different departments before making decisions, Richie added.
Commissioner Don Elwell said he "sympathizes with the sheriff's difficulties and the difficulties faced by other constitutional officers."
At the same time, he added, the county faces a situation where "we have less money coming in than we did last year."
Elwell said he opposes raising taxes to deal with the problem and believes the county needs to stop taking money from reserves.
"We are way overdue in trying to match our budget with the changes in revenues," he said, adding that people do that in their personal lives.
Benton is seeking to have her budget increased from $22.6 million to $23.7 million, a 4.57 percent increase. She said that covers increased costs, such as increased retirement expenses resulting from changes in state law and overtime because of low staffing.
She said she has 27 vacancies and has been able to save money by keeping positions vacant and using savings from that for where the money is needed.
But with the increasing overtime and other costs, that's no longer a solution, Benton maintained. If more major incidents occur where there's a lot of overtime, her budget could run out of money, she said.
In the past years, she said, she kept her budget as low as possible to help commissioners with the budget situation and avoid a tax increase.
Budget issues are not the only reason why positions have remained vacant, the sheriff said.
When people apply they have to meet certain standards and they have to pass a polygraph test.
"We have the hardest time of them getting through the polygraph, she said.
Benton said her first priority is filling dispatcher spots. She said the existing staff typically works overtime and handles extra duties.
Another issue that Benton raised is that more money is allocated to services provided by departments under the Board of County Commissioners than the sheriff's office. She said most of the county employees work 8-5 jobs and that the offices are closed at night, while the sheriff's office runs 24 hours a day, not only resulting in more personnel costs, but also costs involving wear and tear on vehicles, computers and other equipment.
Elwell and Richie agreed the sheriff has a point.
But Elwell also said the services from other constitutional officers besides the sheriff are important.
He said the county needs to review each budget and compare it with previous years that are comparable and find an equitable solution.
"I'm hopeful we can work together to find a solution," he said. "We're all working toward the same goal. It's just a matter of how you get there."
jmeisel@highlandstoday.com
(863) 386-5834