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 \u201cprudent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prosecutors\u2019 subpoenas, issued last month, show their review includes looking into the county\u2019s contracts with a consultant for law enforcement studies at the airport and seaport.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s announcement came two weeks after the county decided to strip Broward County Fire Rescue from the sheriff\u2019s administration<\/a> and on the eve of a discussion over whether to strip the Sheriff\u2019s Office of responsibility to handle the regional 911 emergency response system<\/a>.<\/p>\n The County Commission also is poised to vote on a further study to determine the costs and benefits of removing the Sheriff\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Tony\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Tony had requested $937 million, an increase of more than 12% over the previous year.<\/p>\n Over the past few months, the sheriff has sought to take his case directly to the public\u00a0in the form of a host of social media posts and videos in which he has argued against the county\u2019s high-profile moves, claiming that elected officials are putting politics ahead of public safety needs.<\/p>\n \u201cBSO 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,\u201d Tony wrote in a Monday news release. \u201cAny required budget matters should proceed through formal, transparent channels so that county services, employees, and residents are not adversely affected.\u201d<\/p>\n Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen called Tony\u2019s announcement \u201cmeaningless.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe stopped negotiating already,\u201d Bogen said. \u201cHow do you suspend negotiations when you refuse to negotiate? \u2026\u00a0He made it clear when nobody came to the meeting last week. The only negotiating he does is on his videos.\u201d<\/p>\n While the county\u2019s responsibility is to approve the sheriff\u2019s budget, spending the money is at the sheriff\u2019s discretion, leaving commissioners frustrated.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The County Commission next is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and commissioners have placed a discussion about fiscal accountability concerning port security\u00a0on the meeting agenda.<\/p>\n Tony\u2019s announcement precludes the likelihood he will send a representative to Tuesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear what led to the statewide prosecutor\u2019s investigation<\/a>. Attorney General James Uthmeier declined to answer when directly asked, and law enforcement agencies routinely decline to answer questions about ongoing investigations.<\/p>\n