Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony slammed the door Monday on budget negotiations with county leaders, stating that an investigation by statewide prosecutors makes any such discussion not “prudent.”
Prosecutors’ subpoenas, issued last month, show their review includes looking into the county’s contracts with a consultant for law enforcement studies at the airport and seaport.
The sheriff’s announcement came two weeks after the county decided to strip Broward County Fire Rescue from the sheriff’s administration and on the eve of a discussion over whether to strip the Sheriff’s Office of responsibility to handle the regional 911 emergency response system.
The County Commission also is poised to vote on a further study to determine the costs and benefits of removing the Sheriff’s Office from its current responsibilities at the ports. The ultimate decision on that issue is at least two years away, according to a timeline presented by the county administration.
Tony’s announcement continues a trend of non-cooperation with the local government responsible for approving $885 million of his annual budget for the fiscal year that began in October.
Tony had requested $937 million, an increase of more than 12% over the previous year.
Over the past few months, the sheriff has sought to take his case directly to the public in the form of a host of social media posts and videos in which he has argued against the county’s high-profile moves, claiming that elected officials are putting politics ahead of public safety needs.
“BSO will continue to meet its legal responsibilities in the budget process, provide information required by law, and protect the delivery of essential public-safety services throughout Broward County,” Tony wrote in a Monday news release. “Any required budget matters should proceed through formal, transparent channels so that county services, employees, and residents are not adversely affected.”
Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen called Tony’s announcement “meaningless.”
“He stopped negotiating already,” Bogen said. “How do you suspend negotiations when you refuse to negotiate? … He made it clear when nobody came to the meeting last week. The only negotiating he does is on his videos.”
While the county’s responsibility is to approve the sheriff’s budget, spending the money is at the sheriff’s discretion, leaving commissioners frustrated.
For example, commissioners complained at their Nov. 29 meeting that Tony requested money to purchase a new helicopter, but after they approved it, he bought three, forcing them to find money to address the shortfall.
The County Commission next is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and commissioners have placed a discussion about fiscal accountability concerning port security on the meeting agenda.
Tony’s announcement precludes the likelihood he will send a representative to Tuesday’s meeting.
The Office of the Statewide Prosecutor issued subpoenas last month on all nine county commissioners and some key government officials asking for records about the hiring of the consulting firm Jensen Hughes to investigate costs of services at the ports. The consultants came back with an analysis reporting the establishment of new police forces were feasible but that it would make more sense to study the issue further and get a better grasp on the financial implications before a permanent decision is made.
It’s not clear what led to the statewide prosecutor’s investigation. Attorney General James Uthmeier declined to answer when directly asked, and law enforcement agencies routinely decline to answer questions about ongoing investigations.
County commissioners say they’re baffled by the state’s subpoenas, which seek records that could have been obtained by a public records request without disclosing a potential criminal investigation.
Tony said his decision to cease negotiating with the county is intended to preserve the integrity of the investigation and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
“It would not be prudent for me or members of my staff to engage in discretionary budget negotiations with the Commission while that investigation remains active,” he said in a news release. “The Statewide Prosecutor must be able to conduct this work, and every person is entitled to due process.
“This decision is to protect the people of Broward County from unnecessary disruption, uncertainty, or questions about whether budget discussions could be influenced by the investigation. It is not a judgment about the investigation’s outcome.”
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.