County Commissioners Approve Sheriff's Office 2010 Budget

DADE CITY (Sept. 1, 2009) - Pasco County Commissioners approved Sheriff Bob White's 2010 budget submission today that keeps the agency Aviation Unit flying and adds 24 deputies funded by the federal law enforcement stimulus package.

The $4.4 million awarded to the agency is the fourth largest amount provided to any agency in Florida, and will be used to fund the hiring of the 24 deputies for three years. It was these funds that allowed the Sheriff to bring the Aviation Unit back, after announcing he would disband it earlier this year due to the expected budget funding shortfall.

In addition, commissioners funded a request by Sheriff White to build a $145,000 hangar for the Aviation Unit, which now leases space to the amount of $60,000 a year. Over the long run, explained the Sheriff, it would save taxpayers' dollars to have our own hangar.

The total $85.4 million budget represents the second year in a row that the Sheriff has reduced his funding request from previous years.

"I'm pleased that the commissioners heeded the will of Pasco citizens who stated that they wanted public safety to be at the top of their funding priorities," Sheriff White said. He refers to a number of budget workshops the county conducted for citizens to voice their opinions on where their tax dollars should be utilized. Law enforcement and emergency fire and medical services topped the list.