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| The proposed 3-year funding agreement between the BCC and ECSO to be considered tomorrow is the latest demonstration of this Board's support for public safety, first responders, and law enforcement |
Over the last several months, staff and personnel from the county and ECSO have been working toward a multi-year budget deal for the ECSO.
The BCC had a similar, 4-year deal negotiated back in 2018.
If the board approves this deal and the Sheriff signs it--the two entities will have a deal that makes the budgeting for the next three years "plug and play." No drama like we have seen before, no billboards, no negativity, just a fair and straightforward three year deal that provides what the ECSO needs--including significant yearly pay increases in each of the next three years--- while simultaneously necessitating NO tax rate increases for citizens and NO raising of the Sheriff's MSTU.
This will be a big deal if passed and enacted--which I feel fairly certain will happen.
It demonstrates this board's continuing support of public safety, corrections, and first responders--as this comes on the heels of us providing historic raises and bonuses for ECFR, EMS, and corrections.
While it is easy for some to denigrate us and attempt to falesly accuse this board of "not supporting" public safety-----those false assessements fall flat in the face of our demonstrated support for public safety and first responders through our actions via this budget.
And this potential 3-year deal with ECSO is just the latest example of this effort and commitment.
The "Sheriff's MSTU" seems misnamed because it is not imposed by the Sheriff but by the BCC. The Sheriff's MSTU is only imposed in the mainland part of Unincorporated Escambia County. What does the Sheriff do with the money? Does Sheriff Simmons request this money for a special purpose and, if so, what is it? Sheriff Morgan didn't request it but got it and spent it. Unexplainably, the Sheriff patrols Century but not Pensacola. Why is that? Further, Century property owners do not pay the Sheriff's MSTU. What special law enforcement services does the Sheriff provide to property owners located just "outside" of the Town of Century limit in Unincorporated Escambia County that are not provided to property owners "in" the Town of Century? Or is this just a clever way for the BCC to impose higher property taxes on properties in places like Beulah and Perdido Key hoping that no one will notice that they get nothing extra for the extra taxes? Seems like a very good question to ask the Sheriff when the budget deal comes up. The public deserves to know.
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