INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Sheriff Eric Flowers is at a stalemate with the county over next year’s budget, and he used a news conference Sept. 5 to bolster his case.
With more money for the Sheriff’s Office, Flowers said, two burglaries to county offices might have been avoided. The incidents led to two misdemeanor arrests.
“The County (Commission) seems to forget how important law enforcement is,” said Flowers. “Here are two examples of where thefts are occurring in their buildings, and they’re not willing to fund us.”
County Commission Chair Joseph Flescher could not be reached for comment, despite an attempt by phone.
Flowers initially asked commissioners for an 18.9% increase for fiscal year 2026 — $14.6 million — from $78.9 million to $93.5 million. He’s now lowered that request to 15.5%, or $12.2 million, to $91.1 million.
The county initially offered a $4.7 million increase, or 6%; and has upped its offer $6 million, or a 7.9% hike.
“They’ve made this personal,” said Flowers. “I’m in a fight to ensure we have the resources we need to protect this county.”
The County Commission has budget hearings Sept. 10 and 17 before it adopts the 2025-2026 budget, effective Oct. 1.
Separate incidents
At his news conference, Flowers singled out thefts from the county Comptroller’s Office between May 6 and 30. A cell phone and a “massive check” were stolen, he said.
The Sheriff’s Office placed a surveillance camera and bait money in the office, and on Aug. 5, video showed a 36-year-old Sebastian man, who worked for a county cleaning contractor, taking $6 in bait money from a desk and from inside a desk drawer.
The man was arrested on petty theft and probation violation charges.
On July 30, a man was seen entering the County Administration Building, 1801 27th Ave. The lock was broken on a door that was programmed to lock at 5 p.m., and he was in the building for just under an hour, Flowers said. He walked through the building, attempting to enter locked departments, according to the sheriff.
He entered the Budget and Finance departments, and tried to access a Finance Department computer. Investigation found that papers on desks had been moved and chair heights had been changed, Flowers said.
A 47-year-old man, listed in law enforcement records as homeless, was arrested Aug. 7 in Stuart, where he was found with his mother in a hospice facility.
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers cites burglaries to push for budget increase
Reporting by Nick Slater and Corey Arwood, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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