I got this email today. You nor I want police cuts, but it seems that is one way to get us screaming and saying "Oh no, don't cut our taxes!!" You know there are others ways to cut the budget. With all the new homes and taxes coming out of Sumter County we're still having to make bug cuts??? Am I missing something? Hancle, is this the article you were referring to?

To All Members of the Police and Fire Retirees Club,

Below is a letter sent by Sheriff Farmer of Sumter County to the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners. President Varga has spoken with personnel from the Sheriff's Department and it was decided that we would forward this information to our club members so they may contact the Board of Commissioners asking that they not make this drastic cut in the budget of the Sumter County Sheriff's Department. If this budget cut was made it would affect services in The Villages. I have included the email addresses of the 5 commissioners along with the office phone number and mailing address. It is not necessary that you live in Sumter County to send an email supporting the Sheriff's Department.

Lyn Lobdell
Secretary/Treasurer
www.policeandfireretireesclub.us

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Richard Hoffman, Chairman
Dick.Hoffman@sumtercountyfl.gov

Doug Gilpin, 2nd Vice Chairman
Doug.Gilpin@sumtercountyfl.gov

Michael E. Francis
Michael.Francis@sumtercountyfl.gov

Garry Breeden, Vice Chairman
Garry.Breeden@sumtercountyfl.gov

Randy Mask
Randy.Mask@sumtercountyfl.gov

910 North Main Street
Bushnell, FL 33513

Office: (352) 793-0200
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June 26, 2008

Mr. Bradley Arnold
910 North Main Street
Bushnell, FL 33513

RE: Budget Reduction

Dear Mr. Arnold:

Per your email dated June 17, 2008. You requested I prepare to reduce the 2007-2008 Law Enforcement funding by 9.93%. This would be the percentage I would be expected to deduct should the Board of County Commissioners adopt the current millage rate of 5.43% for the 2008-2009 budget year. By reducing the current law enforcement budget by 9.93%, I would have to cut $1,819,594. Below, I will explain how that amount could be reached. By no means do I endorse, support or agree to the following cuts and/or eliminations. To do so would place the public, deputies, police officers and firemen at risk of injury or death. It would also be reckless. I am only providing the data to you because you requested I do so.

I would not take any salary increase set by the State and I hope all of the elected officials in Sumter would do the same.

I would start by performing only the functions I am required to do by Florida Constitution and/or statute. I currently dispatch for not only the Sheriff's Office, but County Fire and the cities of Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman and Webster. The Board of County Commissioners receives no financial support from any of the city's to dispatch their agencies. I could reduce my dispatch staffing by six (6) positions, if I no longer dispatch the fire department or the police departments. I would still answer 911 calls but would transfer the call for city police to whatever location the city had set up to dispatch the call. I would do the same for 911 fire calls. The 911 medical calls would not be affected. The fire departments and city police would have to establish dispatch capabilities very soon.

I would not open the new 911 Dispatch Center. I would remain at the current location. I would no longer need the additional space if I am only dispatching the sheriff and answering 911 calls. The State of Florida, based on the plan to move to a new 911 facility, gave a grant to the Board of County Commissioners to purchase new state of the art software. The approximate $422,000 would be returned to the State as we would not qualify for the grant. The lack of new 911 software and switching equipment will create a future problem as the Federal Government mandates additional capabilities that the current software will not support.

I will eliminate five (5) civilian support personnel (secretaries, receptionist and an IT Tech) and use voicemail to answer administrative calls. That leaves me with 1.5 people to maintain over 180 computers.

I would eliminate a mechanic from the auto shop and be left with one (1) mechanic to maintain over 150 vehicles.

I would eliminate one (1) bailiff from court security.

I would eliminate two motorcycles assigned to traffic enforcement.

I would remove two truancy deputies.

I would remove the school resource officers assigned to the middle schools in Webster and Wildwood and the elementary schools. I would not remove the three (3) school resource officers from the high schools.

I would eliminate the Tac Squad, (4 deputies) that handle special assignments such as warrant arrests, special events in the county, Villages and drug enforcement.

I would eliminate the funeral escorts and the security inspections deputy.

I would eliminate the deputy assigned to the Village Neighborhood and CDD meetings.

I would eliminate an additional nine (9) deputies assigned patrol duties.

I would eliminate the four (4) district Command Lieutenant's and send them to patrol. Lt. Wolfe would be assigned patrol and no longer able to handle CDD issues. The Villages annex would be staffed only by volunteers.

The elimination of the twelve (12) civilian and twenty-three (23) deputy sheriffs would allow me to reach the reduction of $1,819,594.

Again, let me state that I am adamantly opposed to any of the reductions and DO NOT agree to implement any of them. I fully expect the public to be shocked at such a reduction in service. I know I would be.

Respectfully,

SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE


William O. "Bill" Farmer, Jr.
Sheriff

WOF/dlw