Lee County commissioners sent a flat budget with a property tax rate that remains unchanged on to further workshops before public hearings in September.
That, however, is without dealing with a $41 million increase requested by Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
The budget commissioners agreed to discuss again on August 19 includes $327.7 million for the sheriff next year, exactly the same as this year. With capital spending and other county support, it brings the amount to about $341 million.
County spending flat – Sheriff wants more
County-controlled departments are currently set to increase by 0.4%, with six of the 25 listed departments actually spending less.
Excluding enterprise funds such as solid waste and utilities – which actually generate funding through fees – the departmental budgets drop by 0.8%.
The sheriff’s total budget request, including reserves and capital improvements, would be $382,560,568. That’s an increase of 12.18%. It would be a 100% increase from what Marceno inherited when he was appointed in 2018.
When Sheriff Mike Scott abruptly retired in 2018, he recommended Marceno for the job. When then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed him Marceno inherited a budget of about $191 million.
Sheriff’s budget already rose 65% – request would double it
His budget has already increased by 65% since he took office. Granting his requested budget would make his 2026-27 budget double what he inherited.
The sheriff’s office reiterated that the proposed budget is preliminary and no final decisions have been made.
“Each year, the Sheriff’s Office identifies its operational needs and public safety priorities, while the Board evaluates those requests based on current and projected economic conditions,” the office said in a statement to The News-Press. “The Sheriff’s Office also prioritizes its funding requests to provide flexibility in the timing and funding of initiatives while ensuring critical public safety needs remain the top priority.”
County commissioners had requested that the Constitutional Officers – the Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Clerk of Courts and Supervisor of Elections – submit flat budgets. All of them did but the sheriff.
Commissioners Brian Hamman, David Mulicka and Trish Petrosky did not address the elephant in the room, not debating the sheriff’s request at all. Commissioner Kevin Ruane is on bereavement leave, and Chairman Cecil Pendergrass had a doctor’s appointment.
Mulicka did ask about capital needs and maintenance for the sheriff. Chief Financial Officer Pete Winton said that is also the commissioners responsibility and it’s what explains the difference between the $327 million and the $341 million.
“So, on top of them getting 60% of our budget we maintain their rent-free facilities,” Mulicka said.
The Constitutional Officer budgets do comprise more than 60% of the county budget.
Commissioners did ask for more information at the next workshop, including what the budget would look like if the roll-back rate is adopted. The proposed budget would be funded by the same rate – 3.7623 mils – as the current budget.
Lee tax rate 9th lowest despite Sheriff’s increases
That rate is a little more than $3.76 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. According to the Florida Department of Revenue, it is the ninth lowest among Florida’s 67 counties.
Hamman asked for the roll-back rate calculation. County Chief Financial Officer Pete Winton said that information will be available at the next workshop.
Rod Shoap, sheriff from 2001-04 and a frequent critic who has filed complaints against Marceno as far back as 2019, said he expects county commissioners to give Marceno whatever he asks for.
“Amazing,” Shoap said. “I wonder how much he is spending on law enforcement and how much he is spending on self promotion … lol I’m willing to bet they don’t complain at all. They will just approve it. They are all part of the same group…The Gang!”
Every commissioner but Pendergrass has received campaign contributions from the sheriff’s Political Action Committee Friends of Carmine Marceno.
Commissioners have historically given the sheriff what he has asked for. Three times commissioners refused increases requested by then-Sheriff John McDougall between 1988 and 2000. Three times the sheriff challenged their decision in Tallahassee. Three times the Governor and Cabinet gave him what he wanted.
Winton did lay out the three priorities Marceno named for increases.
Priority 1 includes $11.1 million for 5% pay increases for the departments employees, plus $2.54 million to pay increased rates to the Florida Retirement System and $2.1 million for a 5% increase in health plan costs equaling $2.1 million.
Commissioners have yet to decide on raises for county employees.
The sheriff’s health plan cost has grown by more than11% a year for the past three years.
The first priority also includes $3.1 million for inmate medical costs, $1.7 million for facility maintenance and $185,000 for School Resource Officers at three new schools.
Priority 2 calls for $4.3 million to be spent on 30 positions to cycle through the academy to help replace the 100 or-so who leave the department annually.
Priority 3 calls for another $12 million for an additional 5% to raise starting salaries and the sheriff’s $11.4 million capital request.
“We don’t have the money for Priorities 2 and 3 at this time,” Winton said.
Winton did present a scenario in which the Priority 1 requests are granted.
The proposed budget does show a surplus of $28 million, of which $20 million would be eliminated by the sheriff’s top priorities. The county’s own health plan, including the Constitutionals, would go up by almost $7 million.
That takes the county surplus to $382,334. It doesn’t include the sheriff’s capital request or any county employee pay raises.
Every 1% raise for county employees would cost $1,083,731.
The next budget workshop is August 19. Commissioners will hear about and discuss possible fallout from the property tax exemption referendum on September 1.
The public hearings on the budget will take place September 3 and September 15.
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Charlie Whitehead covers Lee County and Fort Myers. Reach him at cwhitehead@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Commissioners talk flat budget, no tax increase – sheriff wants $41M boost
Reporting by Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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By Charlie Whitehead, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
