<\/p>\n
A tentative budget workshop discussed proposed millage rates for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n
MURDOCK \u2014 The Charlotte County Commission voted Thursday to use a neutral sheriff\u2019s budget for fiscal year 2027 during a budget workshop.<\/p>\n
The original proposed budget valuation left the Charlotte County Sheriff\u2019s Office with a $10 million budget deficit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat included the $7 million increase I asked, and also an additional $3 million,\u201d Sheriff Bill Prummell said. \u201cI’d have to cut all of that $7 million, which I can’t do because some of that is contract obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prummell presented the altered proposed budget of $144 million to the County Commission: $93 million for law enforcement, $39 million for courts, $6 million for detention and $5 million for dispatch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummel addresses the County Commission to discuss FY 26\/27 tentative budgets.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER<\/p>\n
About $11 million was saved for contracted services while CCSO had to cut services in other areas for the $10 million deficit, Prummell said.<\/p>\n
Proposed cost reduction initiatives included reduced replacement patrol vehicle purchases, reduced jail medical expenditures, decreased airframe insurance costs for its Black Hawk helicopter, and a FEMA reimbursement for Hurricane Ian.<\/p>\n
Reductions and reimbursements would save $4 million.<\/p>\n
Additional cuts include 18 budgeted law enforcement positions. Prummell said 10 positions would\u2019ve gone toward traffic enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was hoping to add two more traffic units,\u201d Prummell said. \u201cCurrently, I have two traffic units that work seven days a week that switch between 12 hours. I was hoping to add two more, so I can cover more of the county.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prummell also proposed eliminating salary increase for deputies and reducing the number of school resource officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it comes to cutting existing positions and taking away my deputies\u2019 pay raises, I don\u2019t like that,\u201d Prummell told commissioners. \u201cI will dig my heels in and I will fight you on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner Bill Truex supported Prummell\u2019s stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should fight very hard for your folks, and I know you will,\u201d Truex said. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna have to have more people on the streets. This is going to be a very thoughtful discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n
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How each tax dollar is spent for the proposed FY 26\/27 maximum millage rate budget.<\/p>\n
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY GOVERNMENT<\/p>\n
At the end of the workshop, commissioners voted to use the neutral sheriff\u2019s budget, which eliminates the $10 million deficit. The tentative budget total for the sheriff\u2019s office is around $153 million.<\/p>\n
However, the workshop only calculated the maximum amount of money that may be used for proposed budgets. Budget hearings are coming up, and the commission could cut costs and find ways to lower the maximum rate \u2014 they just can\u2019t raise it.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople should be aware that it\u2019s going to be less than that,\u201d Commissioner Stephen Deutsch said.<\/p>\n
Prummell said he would return in September for the final budget hearings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve already made some changes,\u201d Prummell said. \u201cWe’ve made some additional purchases. I was able to pre-purchase patrol vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n