Making a case for more cash

Broward sheriff’s budget proposal tops current plan by $33 million

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel is looking for more money for the county’s emergency dispatch system, courthouse security and to hire dozens of new employees.

What Israel’s budget hasn’t fully taken into account is any additional security that might be warranted following the January mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or additional security needed at the county’s new 20-story courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

County commissioners say they will discuss security issues in a closed-door meeting after their summer break. A report on the county’s response to the airport shooting is due in July and should provide recommendations for the future.

A consultant is also preparing a report on courthouse security because of an ongoing dispute between the Sheriff ’s Office and the county

over how many additional deputies are needed to staff courtrooms there.

Israel proposes spending $493.8 million for the department’s core services, which is $33 million more than the current budget and a 7.2 percent increase. County Administrator Bertha Henry said that’s about $8 million more than the level she had suggested for the coming year.

With a healthy increase expected in property values, Israel said the county can afford the bill.

Property Appraiser Marty Kiar estimates a 9 percent increase in property values in the county this year, the largest increase since before the Great Recession. Israel said now is the time to invest the money needed to make the county safer.

“The time to fix a roof, as we all know, is when the sun’s shining, not when it’s raining,” Israel told county commissioners at their budget workshop Tuesday.

In addition, the sheriff ’s budget includes contractual police services it provides at the airport, Port Everglades, the emergency dispatch center and to 13 cities. Its total proposed budget, including those services, is $888.1 million.

Commissioners had questions for Israel about the budget but are waiting for a more accurate picture of the property taxes that will be available before making any decisions. Kiar is supposed to have those figures ready by June 1.

The sheriff’s budget includes 59 new regional positions, including 11 new sworn deputies at the Juvenile Assessment Center, and additional investigators for the economic crimes unit and the internet crimes against children

Israel proposes spending $493.8 million for the department’s core services, which is $33 million more than the current budget and a 7.2 percent increase.

unit.

Israel is also seeking reinstatement of 22 fire-rescue positions at the airport and Port Everglades that were cut in September 2015 when the federal grant that paid for them ended.

But Henry said airport and port officials have not said they need the extra staffing. Commissioner Beam Furr said it would be premature to make a decision on the 22 positions until the airport report is received.

The county is also considering restructuring its three emergency 911 dispatch centers.

It could consolidate all fire-rescue dispatch services in its Coconut Creek center and all law enforcement calls in its Sunrise center.

It would leave the remaining Pembroke Pines center for training programs and to serve as an emergency backup center if workers had to flee one in an emergency such as a hurricane.

The two-center dispatch proposal adds 38 new dispatch-related positions, increasing the dispatch budget almost $4 million, for a $45.2 million total. That’s 21 fewer positions and $6.6 million less than had been proposed without the restructuring. If approved, Israel said the change could be in place by January.

The budget includes six new positions and a $1.5 million increase for airport security services, but that’s to police the expanded airport, not address any concerns raised after the shooting this year. Esteban Santiago is charged with killing five people and wounding six others in the Jan. 6 attack at the airport.

The union representing Broward deputies issued a “call to action” this month, requesting its members contact commissioners about Mayor Barbara Sharief’s “dangerous agenda” that it said included replacing deputies at the airport with armed security guards.

The county said the mayor “never directed the county administrator to seek alternative options for police services at our airport or port, and neither did anyone else at Broward County.”

At Tuesday’s workshop, Henry said the county needs to be ready to solicit proposals for security if it can’t reach agreement with the Sheriff ’s Office on airport, port and courthouse security, although the sheriff is constitutionally obligated to provide courthouse security.

The sheriff is an independently elected constitutional officer, but his budget is controlled by the county commission. The budget is mainly supported by property taxes and is a significant portion of the county’s overall budget, which is due out in July.

There will be public hearings on the budget in September; the new budget year starts Oct. 1.