Orange sheriff seeks budget boost

Demings requests a nearly $18 million increase

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings asked for a nearly $18 million increase to his budget at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, and he joked that there were deputies in the audience there with him for “backup.”

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs — referencing the number of deputies at the meeting and the amount of money Demings was asking for — responded with: “I wondered why you had so many, but then I saw the size of your request, and then I realized maybe the entire chamber and building should be full.”

Demings, citing a steady increase in population, tourism and demands on law enforcement, asked to create 55 new jobs.

That number includes 42 deputies, four school resource officers and several civilian positions.

Demings said it’s important to fund law enforcement not only to keep up with the growing demands, but to make sure the growth continues.

“Orange County is on fire — that’s a positive thing. There’s growth happening all over this county,” he said. “In order for that to continue, people are going to have to perceive that we have a safe community to live, work and play within.”

Unincorporated Orange County — which is the sheriff’s jurisdiction — has grown from just less than 700,000 in 2006 to more than 800,000 in 2016, Demings said.

The agency has 2,197 full-time employees; 1,523 of those are deputies.

Demings also asked to raise deputies’ salaries. An entry-level deputy makes about $41,000 a year.

He wants to boost starting pay to about $46,000.

The sheriff said competitive salaries help him recruit and retain deputies.

According to Demings’ research, the minimum pay for an Orlando police officer is about $48,000; Apopka police officers make about $45,000; and Winter Garden police earn about $44,139.

Since 2011, the Sheriff ’s Office has lost 661 sworn officers. Of those, 74 have left for other Florida law-enforcement agencies since 2013, and 67 applicants last year accepted positions at other agencies.

The sheriff also said that he would use the additional money in his budget request for an increase in workers’ compensation and liability insurance of about $650,000; $500,000 for fuel; a $300,000 upgrade to building security; and grant-matching costs of $680,000.

The Sheriff ’s Office is securing grants to supplement its budget as well, he said.

Since the recession of 2008, the county has worked to make sure the Sheriff’s Office did not suffer cuts in the county budget, Jacobs said.

The board did not vote on the proposed budget Tuesday, but Jacobs said she plans to include the sheriff’s proposed increases in her tentative budget to be revealed July 18.