PANEL BACKS SHERIFF'S REQUEST

The Recommendation of a $950,000 Budget Hike Now Goes To The Governor
and The Cabinet.

TALLAHASSEE -- Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Clement is entitled to a
$950,000 budget increase, a state panel unanimously recommended Monday.

Trying to settle a budget dispute between the sheriff and the
Charlotte County Commission, aides to Gov. Jeb Bush, Chief Financial
Officer Tom Gallagher, and Attorney General Charlie Crist settled on
the recommendation, which represents more than a third of the $2.3
million increase Clement sought in his appeal to the state.

The county had approved a $31.9 million budget for the sheriff's 2002-
03 fiscal year, which runs through September.

The panel recommended that the sheriff receive an additional $700,000
to hire 21 more personnel, including eight patrol deputies, two
narcotics detectives, and six communications workers.

The group also backed a $250,000 increase to buy cars for the new
patrol officers and other personnel. Clement had originally asked for
a $500,000 increase for vehicles and equipment.

Monday's decision represents another stage in the sheriff's budget
appeal, with the recommendation now heading to the governor and the
Cabinet. The Cabinet could act on the proposal as early as its Aug. 12
meeting, although the agenda has not been set.

Clement, who attended the panel's discussion, said he was pleased by
the recommendation.

"We always wanted to work with the county and come to some kind of
reasonable resolution," Clement said. "This figure is roughly halfway,
and I really think it's fair to all.

"I think it will be a positive thing for the people that we are going
to put these officers out on the street and in communications, where
they need to be."

The Charlotte commissioners may discuss their next move in the budget
appeal process at their meeting today.

"I don't think we're going to accept this," said Charlotte
Commissioner Matt DeBoer.

DeBoer said he expects the county will take its case before the
governor and the Cabinet next month. The county can do a better job of
explaining its position and its budget process, he said.

Charlotte County Budget Officer Ann Navan said that if the aides'
recommendation is upheld, the county would have to somehow come up
with the extra money.

Losing the budget battle with the sheriff would also affect how the
county approaches the sheriff's budget request for the 2003-04 fiscal
year, she said. Clement has asked for an increase of 21 percent, or
$6.7 million.

State officials said they were sympathetic to the sheriff's request
for more personnel, particularly in a high-growth county that has
experienced an escalating crime rate.

"It's this gentleman's constitutional duty to tell us how many people
it takes to do the job," said Paul Mitchell, chief of staff for
Gallagher. "I would defer to the sheriff."

Mitchell said he was more skeptical of the sheriff's other financial
requests, but said it made no sense to approve more personnel without
providing some funding for cars and equipment. He said cutting the
sheriff's vehicle request in half was "a fair and reasonable" compromise.

After the meeting, Clement said the $250,000 vehicle spending increase
was a prudent move. "We can't put them out there on unicycles," he
said.

Brad Thomas, the public safety coordinator for Bush's budget office,
said he was swayed by the sheriff's argument that, compared with
other, similar-sized counties, Charlotte's law enforcement needs were
underfunded.

"They're not funded as high, in my view, as those other counties,"
Thomas said.

Charlotte officials, though, maintain that the county has provided
adequate funding.

"If you cook the numbers enough, which the Sheriff's Office is good
at, you can confuse anybody into believing that we've underfunded the
Sheriff's Office," DeBoer said.

Clement said that if the governor and the Cabinet endorse the
recommendation, he is ready to hire the new employees, including the
eight patrol deputies, "as soon as possible." In addition to the new
patrol officers, the panel backed the sheriff's request for four
dispatchers, two call takers, one deputy for the traffic unit, two
narcotics detectives, and four community service aides.

Thomas, though, noted Monday's recommendation does not settle the
budget dispute. "It's a difficult process and it's not over," he told
the sheriff.

Clement said he is ready to defend the recommendation as it moves to
the governor and the Cabinet, which could accept, reject or amend the
proposal.

"I'm sure all sides will be trying to lobby their point," Clement
said. "But I think the panel here has made the correct, prudent,
intelligent decision."

Herald-Tribune staff writer Jamie Manfuso contributed to this report.