Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said Tuesday that he supports property tax relief but has concerns about how Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 could affect essential services.
In a news release, Prummell said Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators are trying to address a real problem, but called the proposal the “right problem, wrong solution.” Read more about DeSantis’ proposal.
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More than 99% of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office budget comes from property taxes, Prummell said. Personnel costs account for about 83% to 85% of the budget; this fiscal year, they account for 84%.
The rest pays for expenses such as fuel, equipment, technology, vehicle maintenance, jail operations and capital purchases. The capital budget is mostly patrol vehicles, which cost about $1.8 million, according to the release. The sheriff’s office has previously raised concerns about the amendment.
Amendment 3 could cut sheriff’s office funding
Based on budget projections, the proposed changes would reduce funding available to the sheriff’s office by about $26 million in fiscal year 2028 and $47 million in fiscal year 2029, Prummell said. The projected $47 million reduction is roughly equivalent to the cost of 275 deputy positions, according to the release. Here’s what the amendment would do.
Prummell said the office reviews spending, seeks grants and looks for ways to obtain equipment and resources without adding to taxpayers’ burden. But it still faces inflation and rising costs for fuel, vehicles, insurance, medical care, equipment and maintenance.
Some expenses cannot be eliminated, he said. They include medical, dental and mental health services, as well as three meals a day for inmates. The office also needs insurance, vehicles to respond to calls, training and equipment.
Other costs could be reduced, but Prummell said that would not close the projected gap. Cutting about $4 million in patrol vehicle purchases, in-car and body-worn cameras, and other equipment would still leave a $43 million shortfall. The release said those tools support officer safety, accountability, transparency and criminal investigations.
Sheriff warns of service cuts or other taxes
Prummell also questioned how governments would pay for required services if the amendment passed while those costs remained. Communities could face reduced services, alternative revenue sources or both, he said.
Depending on state law, alternative sources could include special taxing districts, Municipal Service Taxing Units, Municipal Service Benefit Units, or other taxes and assessments. Statewide sales taxes could also change, according to the release.
“Tax relief should be evaluated not only by what disappears from a tax bill, but also by what families may ultimately pay elsewhere,” Prummell said.
He also expressed concern that the proposal was developed during a special legislative session that lasted about three days and, according to the release, lacked a comprehensive impact study. Prummell noted that constitutional amendments can be difficult to change or reverse once approved.
“I support tax relief. I support responsible government spending. And I support protecting the essential public safety services our community relies upon. These goals should not be treated as mutually exclusive,” Prummell said.
“You deserve meaningful tax relief.” He added “You also deserve to know how proposed changes could affect the safety and services of your community. Above all, you deserve a government that does the hard work of finding responsible solutions, rather than leaving families and communities to deal with unintended consequences.”
Read the full news article on GulfCoastNewsNow.com