Tempers flared during a Sept. 12 presentation in front of the Board of County Commissioners when the topic of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office budget came up.
Commissioner Steve Champion questioned why the HCSO had no cuts to its budget compared to other departments that made significant slashes in the face of a 2.5% decrease in the millage rate.
In what quickly turned into a heated exchange with Champion, Sheriff Al Nienhuis detailed why the numbers weren’t quite what they seemed.
“I think the best way to put it is we’re 39th in property taxes and 56th in public safety spending, so we have done our share of cutting over the years,” Nienhuis said. “Every year the Sheriff’s Office starts our budget process right after the first of the year. And you are welcome and you have been offered, but you never show up, to come and look at some of the requests that we have that get cut way before, way before June 1. Our original budget increase this year was 29% and we got it down to 12%.
“But again, looking at the revenue that has come in and our portion of the revenue, we always take less than our portion over the year. So we have performance punishment and we’re one of the lowest, if not the lowest per capita sheriff’s office in the state in funding. So for asking us to do our share, we have already done our share.”
The sheriff added since the HCSO has no need for reserves for its capital fund, that would save $2 million and meet the cuts that were required.
“If you look at the animal shelter as an example. That budget has gone through the roof and you seem very proud that you’ve thrown a lot of money at the animal shelter but yet you still want to cut the Sheriff’s Office,” Nienhuis said. “Even though looking at the numbers, and you claim to be a numbers person, you look at the number you don’t seem to see that that’s a little bit hypocritical to say the least.
“And I’m all in favor of putting money in the animal shelter if that’s what you see fit. But don’t come and ask us when we’re already by a third party showing that we’re one of the lowest funded public safety counties in the state and say, ‘Why don’t you do your share, sheriff?’ Frankly I think you need to re-evaluate your stance, Mr. Champion.”
Champion’s support of the animal shelter and perceived dislike of the sheriff came under fire multiple times during the discussion. Champion in particular tangled with Commissioner Jerry Campbell. “It’s apparent and I think everybody can see it, you have a personal issue with the sheriff,” Campbell said.
“I have a problem with the budget,” Champion responded. “That’s what I have a problem with. Taxes, that’s what I have a problem with. Period. I’ve said that several times.”
Campbell voiced his support of the sheriff, pointing to Nienhuis’ recently won re-election as an indication that the public feels the same. He noted that candidates for sheriff in recent elections have consistently run on the platform that more officers were needed.
“Commissioner Champion, I know you are passionate. I appreciate it. We all are fiscal conservatives,” Campbell said. “You’re absolutely right, every dollar that we’re talking about today is dollars that we’re getting from these residents that are sitting out here and the ones that are watching online. That’s where this money is coming from and I take that very seriously. But I also take public safety very seriously.
“… I don’t know what else we expect from our great men and women that are getting up every day to put on that badge, that star, to go out and protect this great county that we live in. I don’t know what else we’re expecting from them.”
“I’m not trying to say that law enforcement is not a priority,” Champion said. “We cut the millage by 2.5%. We asked all the departments to come in and cut some. When I look at the sheet, it has zero cuts. That’s what I asked. Everybody else, including $3.5 million on the BOCC side, they cut. That’s what I’m asking.
“And it’s a large number of an increase. So when you say, ‘Who are we to cut?’ He’s adding millions of dollars. Millions and millions of dollars year after year. I’m asking is there anything we can do to reduce the increase. Not cut what he’s spending.”
Champion commented that he should have pushed for the Sheriff to have his own Municipal Services Taxation Unit (MSTU) years ago so he has his own taxing line. He also mentioned that many community members are concerned about the Sheriff’s “spy cameras” and the lack of information surrounding those.
The county is spending money on these cameras but not on body cameras for law enforcement, which he said are essential.
Chairperson Elizbeth Narverud added that if the HCSO budget was more in line with the county’s population ranking, those body cameras could be afforded.
“This budget to me is like air to everybody else. If I don’t have sufficient money to provide safety and security to the citizens, then nothing else matters,” Nienhuis said. “When our budget was originally presented, it would be easy for me put in the $22 million increase and then come here and have the ability to look great politically and cut it down to $9 million and everybody would think it would be a win looking on TV. But to me I believe that’s a little disingenuous.
“… A very important point, 87% of our budget are personnel costs. Liability insurance, food for inmates, cars, you name it, everything else is in that 13%. So for us to cut we’re going to have to cut either salaries or people to have meaningful cuts and I really don’t think we should do either of that.”
Pending the final budget hearing at 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 24, the Board unanimously approved the county’s tentative total budget of $939,969,805 for fiscal year 2025 with a proposed total millage rate of 8.3929 which is 3.83 percent above the roll-back rate. The rollback rate refers to the rate that would produce revenue equal to the previous year’s rate.
The Board also unanimously approved the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan budget of $931,721,510.
