TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Round 1

ADVERTISEMENT

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: June 4, 2008

As veteran observers of Pasco County government know, June 1 often heralds the arrival of not only the Atlantic hurricane season but something else likely to get things stirring: the release of the annual Sheriff's Office budget proposal. Regardless of who is sheriff or his or her party affiliation, the county's top law enforcement official has almost without fail wanted more money than the County Commission wants to give the office.

Usually, a budget deal is reached after some rhetoric is exchanged, although there have been over the decades the odd appeal to the state of the County Commission's decision on the Sheriff's Office budget.

Sheriff Bob White, seeking re-election this year, is asking less of a budget for fiscal 2009 than he got for the current budget year. Early reaction from some commissioners suggests White may not have pared his FY '09 spending plans enough yet. The County Commission had asked the sheriff and other Pasco elected constitutional officers for a 6 percent spending reduction in 2009, compared to the current budget year. To reach that goal, White would have needed to cut an additional $4 million or so to go with the $1.1 million reduction he has made.

Since this is an election year in with the electorate isn't too fond of taxes, look for the final Sheriff's Office spending reduction to be closer to with the commission wants than want White has offered so far.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT