Regina Curtis

I moved to Citrus County almost 40 years ago. It is still
rural, but not as quiet as it used to be. Highway 44 is now
a major four-lane highway, and the population has
increased from 74,724 in 1985 to 171,361 in 2024. Home
building permits are up as more people move to our
county, and tourism has surged due to both the
manatee and scallop seasons. In 2022, there were
over 1,658,100 tourists.

Sadly, more people mean more crime. Recently, for
example, there was a double homicide where detectives
from our Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) worked with
the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, as it occurred in both
counties. Methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs are
also pouring into our county, adding to the mix of violent
crime that usually follows.

To keep us safe and secure, we need enough manpower in
the Sheriff’s Office (deputies) to handle the job. The FBI
recommends 2.4 deputies per 1,000 citizens, which, given
our current population, would mean 411 deputies. At present,
we only have 230 deputies. If we followed the national model
to support our community, we would need 181 more deputies
to fulfill the mission. For the past four years, the Sheriff’s
budget has requested modest increases to staffing, but the
Commissioners have not supported his requests.   I have read
his studies, and the need for more deputies now is real.

Because of delays in supporting the Sheriff’s budget requests,
it costs about $197,000 to add one deputy, which includes salary,
operating, and capital expenses. The Sheriff has raised starting pay
for a deputy sheriff to $53,040.00 per year, which is dramatically
below the national average. Other Florida counties pay much more.

There has been a constant battle to add deputies with the Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC). The Sheriff has found grants that
would help cover costs, but the BOCC has delayed action until the
grants expired. The Sheriff had asked for 48 additional deputies
over a three-year period.

The Sheriff's budget seems to be in the news frequently, but other
budgets are rarely mentioned. The BOCC General Fund Reserves
totaled $62.7 million from 2021 to 2024. Instead, the BOCC voted
on a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) or special tax unit to
fund the Sheriff's department.

To the BOCC: provide the manpower and budget to keep our
citizens safe. PLEASE: NO NEW TAXES.