the Flagler County Commission must close a $2.9 million deficit as it prepares a $150 million 2026 budget that goes in effect on Oct. 1.
The county and its five constitutional officers are projecting a 10.7 percent growth in their collective budgets, from $137.2 million this year to a requested $151.9 million. Projected revenue will grow by 9.6 percent, or $11.8 million. But that is not enough to fully cover the gap. Commission Chair Andy Dance played a little dodgeball with “Doge” and its constitutional officers, but didn’t get far.
“We had a priority at the beginning of budget season to build a budget based on flat or lower millage,” Dance said, referring to the property tax. “So as each of you come up here, we’ve got work to do.”
Each of the five constitutional officers presented their budgets to the commission at an afternoon workshop today–the clerk of court, the tax collector, the supervisor of elections, the property appraiser and the sheriff. The sixth entity is county government itself. Commissioners asked each constitutional officer to work cooperatively to help close the deficit, which–relatively to previous years, and relative to the size of the budget, is not as large as it has been in some previous years, entering budget season.
The clerk of court is projecting a nearly 32 percent budget increase (a $1.1 million increase out of a total budget of $4.6 million), driven in part by sharply increasing operating expenses and personnel costs. The clerk is asking to increase starting pay to $20 an hour to be competitive with similar agencies, to add five employees to its 62, and to buttress its retirement fund. “There is absolutely zero fat, not one dime in this budget,” Clerk of Court Tom Bexley told the commissioners.
In comparison, the property appraiser and the supervisor of elections are projecting much smaller increases–less than 1 percent for the supervisor, 7 percent for the property appraiser, out of a budget of $3.9 million. The tax collector is projecting a 10 percent increase, the Sheriff’s Office a 13.6 percent increase, and the County Commission (or county government) an $8.6 percent increase.
All of these budgets are drawn from the general fund, the fund substantially supported by property taxes, and therefore the fund that dictates the property taxes residents and businesses pay.
Dance said the county will be part of state government’s so-called “doge review process,” the state version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency, which has been tasked with sharply cutting government budgets. “As I understand, the constitutionals have elected not to join us on that,” Dance said. “It’s voluntary, I fully understand. But if we’re not going to work together in that team atmosphere, then how do we be able to approach our public with that same team mentality?”
“The ‘Doge’ letter that came to the county was addressed to the county,” Bexley said. “We all talk to our associations, and frankly, it wasn’t directed to us. I don’t feel like there’s going to be a movement where they want to scrutinize constitutional officers. I could be wrong. At this time, we’re not going to provide the information because we weren’t specifically asked for it. Should that time come, first guy in line, absolutely.”
Bexley, the clerk of court, said investment income alone could close whatever gap there is in his budget: “Excess proceeds currently invested in the open market are in excess of $200 million right now,” he said. “That is a lot of cash. Over the past three years, our average interest on income and on investments is better than $5 million annually. This increase in revenue would easily cover the increases needed for my needs-based budget I’m proposing today.”
Dance told him there was no specific ask from the state regarding government efficiency, and in fact the state’s letter was vague and its processes vaguer. The county was volunteering “as part of our internal efficiency process,” he said, noting that every constitutional officer is basing his and her budgets on needs, with similar challenges. He didn’t provide examples, but County Administrator Heidi Petito, with the commission’s support, plans to reevaluate the county’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Sheriff Rick Staly echoed some of Bexley’s response about “doge,” and said he saw the need for it federally, but that Florida was different. He said constitutional officers are independent. “I don’t think doge in Florida will be successful unless they also talk to people, because if they’re just looking at spreadsheets, that doesn’t tell you the whole story,” the sheriff said.
The county draws the largest portion of the funds, with a projected $83.4 million. The Sheriff’s Office is next, at $52 million. In comparison, all four other constitutional officers have a combined budget of $16.4 million.
The sheriff’s budget would increase from $45.7 million to $52 million, or $6.2 million, with 375 employees, with a relatively low 7 percent turnover rate and a waiting list for employees to join the agency. The sheriff is projecting the addition of three deputies in next year’s budget, as far as the county is concerned (with an additional nine to be paid for by Palm Coast government).
“We continue to have historic crime reduction, despite our population increasing. Our trends so far in 2025 is down,” the sheriff said, though he noted that statistical comparisons with previous years have changed since the federal government changed its accounting system.
Staly raised some structural issues he considers inefficient and not in line with state recommendations: the county owns the 911 dispatch center, the radios, and the CAD system–computer assisted dispatching, which enables the 911 system, the road deputies, the firefighters on the street to all be on the same incident page through their computers while keeping up with all other incidents in real time. The sheriff staffs the 911 system and uses the equipment.
“If one of those entities, one of those pieces go down, your fire chief is responsible for the 911 system and non-emergency phone lines, your IT department is responsible for the CAD and the the RMS system, and your emergency management is responsible for the radio system,” Staly said. “So we’re having to call three different internal units if there’s an issue, because we don’t control any of that for the repairs and those things do go down.” 9One option, he said, was to turn over the whole system, employees included, to the county.)
Staly was also displeased with county plan to use the Alachua 911 system as backup for Flagler County, in case of a local failure, because he wasn’t consulted about aspects of the plan. He was equally displeased with a county billing increase for CAD that was close to slipping through county approval without discussion.
Another increase: Radio user fees. “Until it got really high, I didn’t really look at it that much to be candid with you, so this next fiscal year it’s a $266,937 increase,” he said. In 2022-23, the entire fee for radios was $285,304. The proposed fee for next year is over $1 million, a 265 percent increase. The CAD system is also increasing similarly. “This hit so high on the CAD that I have my staff looking right now on what it will cost me to do an independent CAD,” Staly said. “I can’t afford this. The taxpayers can’t afford this. And actually, we have already found one.”
The message from the sheriff of course was that the county should be rethinking its requests for cuts to the sheriff’s budget, when budget cuts could be achieved through the county’s vendors. He proposed alternatives, including a different radio system.
Commissioners had questions about funding principles and formulas, among other questions, but did not challenge any single aspect of the sheriff’s presentation. “We’ve got a 3 million hole to fill, so I just want to keep the communications open as we work through this process and try to get to the finish line,” Dance said.
When commissioners discussed the budgets among themselves, Commissioner Kim Carney questioned the customary cost-of-living, or inflation, increases. “There’s no doubt in my mind that our county needs to be moving towards something that’s a little bit more efficient than just awarding everybody 4 percent,” she said, though Dance corrected her to the extent that state guidelines set the rough parameters of inflation increases, even though they’re not a guarantee. The budget gap, Carney said, “is going to be a huge fight.”
Larry says
Hoping the 2 “no votes” for the beach renourishment plan will realize that it’s impossible to get $12 million/year from the county budget to pay for beach renourishment. Just look at the pain the county is going through to trim less than $3 million for 1 year.
Perhaps Carney and Richardson will wake up and realize the 1/2 cent tax is the best option for beach renourishment, especially since non-Flagler residents will also pay a share , so the burden won’t solely be on Flagler residents and businesses for ongoing beach renourishment which is badly needed ASAP.
Wake up Carney and Richardson, before it’s too late to save the beaches.
Jim says
Here in this Republican state, Republican county and city, the Republicans in charge of all these constitutional offices have bravely stood up and stated that there is no fat in any of their budgets. Further, nobody needs to look at it as DOGE doesn’t apply to them (since nobody specifically asked them). And Staly somehow has determined that Florida is “different” and constitutional offices are not subject to DOGE type cuts.
WOW! In all my years in management, I never got away with those kinds of statements! If I’d said “there’s nothing to see here”, I have no doubt that those above me would have quickly found someone to replace me who could find some way(s) to reduce the budget. And I’ve cut budgets that made me wince with the concerns I had for the result. But, in my day, they paid me to manage to the directives of the company and that’s what I did year after year. Somehow, we always survived.
The unwillingness to even consider cuts is appalling to me but, since we’re talking about government, not the least bit surprising. I guess the best thing for all of us taxpayers to do is just brace for another tax increase. God knows there’s no fat in any of the government agencies in this county!!!
Far Reight says
Maybe sell some drones or some data collection systems they are using! They did hire like 20 more officers even though crime rates were lower than ever. How much they spend on tanks and swat gear, data collection drones, military equipment ? Did they hire a bunch of pardoned proud boys like ICE did?What laws are they even enforcing ? Clearly not the old us constitution as there is a traitor sitting in the Oval Office. What about Medicare settlement money to boot licking Ron’s wife’s company? So fraud and abuse are no longer illegal? When’s the hearing for people being detained and deported? Treason , corruption and hate rule the day!! Scary that murikkka has Nazis in power.
Sorry I voted for her says
So, Carney, who makes $70k in this part time job along with real estate commissions DOESN’T feel that lowly government employees deserve state suggested cost of living increases. Interesting.
No Name says
The Sheriff’s spending is out of control and had been since he’s been Sheriff. I have inside knowledge of this. He could EASILY cut 10%.
Fed up says
My property tax bill in 9 years has gone from $1,700 to $5,000. Rest assured you try to increase the taxes any further without cleaning up wasteful spending you’re going to see another freaking bulldozer making its rounds.
Atwp says
Expect more tax increases. Just saying.
Denise Calderwood says
I attended the meeting and I requested that the county disband its Human Services Division (supposedly they provide social services…) and only do what is required by FL statute of counties, indigent Healthcare and Subsidized Housing (SHIP program). Currently our county gives the Rock transformation Church $9,000 a month for our supposed Senior Centervwhich in reality is only a congregate meal site. The County staff due the same thing month after month, year after year and something or someone needs to take ownership and devise a workable solution for our County Social Services. We have less services here now than we had in the 1980s and things are only getting worse. At last check we had over 400 students listed at the school system as homeless. We need help here and we don’t have it. Our transportation system is broken and their is a backlog and buses don’t run or serve those in need and they don’t even go to Volusia County for Dr’s appointments or social services appointments and for those of ypu who don’t know we share a lot of agencies with Volusia County, like Salcati9n Army that just closed their local office and consolidated back into Volusia. We need to have active talks now but very few citizens would miss this department….a thorough review and audit needs to occur. I have proof I’m on the streets listening to those who need help and they are your neighbors thanks in part to the City of Palm Coast raising their utility service fees on water, waste and storm by $100. Remember 25% of our County are senior citizens on a fixed income and then ypu have the disabled who only get on average $997 a month…who can live on that, a room yo rent costs $700. Wake up people demand changes from the County Administrator!
Mark says
“The sheriff’s budget would increase from $45.7 million to $52 million, or $6.2 million, with 375 employees, …”
I came from a rural county with three times the population of Flagler County and the Sheriffs office there has just under 400 employees. Maybe we can save next year by having a freeze on hiring? Have to start somewhere.
Irked says
Florida DOGE is nothing like what happened in DC
No reason for the sheriff not to do it
Casts a shadow
JimboXYZ says
We all knew 4 years of growth was never going to pay for any of this (itself). And Bunnell wants to add 8,000 new residential dwellings. They’re already contracting out to FCSO, because their police department can’t cover the population for crime in Bunnell as currently capability & staffed.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Cut half of the officers and have the other half walk a beat instead of drive, just like the good old days.
Jack says
These county government offices like the clerk and the sheriff need to reduce their budgets. The smooth talking is over. They need to participate in DOGE, what are they hiding??? Why are they even allowed to say no? They are spending our hard earned tax dollars and need to be transparent period.
The sheriff’s budget needs significant scrutiny. The sheriff has 375 employees and a combined budget of close to $65,000,000 (what is going on here); that is larger than the city of Palm Coast’s general fund and the city provides a boat load of services with less money. Why is the sheriff’s year over year spending gone up so much when our population is mostly 55 and older and very low crime.
If the revenues are less than 10%, why is the sheriff asking for 13% increase, that sounds absolutely absurd to me. We the tax payers live with in our means and so shall the sheriff and clerk.
The 911 transfer should not be allowed, the senate bill (read it) was requesting that these 911 services remain under the sheriff, this is another trick from the sheriff to pass on the cost to another government agency.
The county commissioners need to dig deeper into these budget that are getting out of control.
Concerned Citizen says
The first thing the Sheriff needs to do is to let Stobridge go. He can play city manager on their dime. All this nonsense of splitting employment on our dime. And how many Commanders with all those stars does he really need? Consolidate leadership. Then start looking at toys and uniforms. I worked for a large SO back home. We only had a few versions of uniforms. Brown and tan. Short sleeves for summer. Long sleeves and ties for winter. And our detectives wore BDU style pants with polos. Or suits when needed. Every time there’s a group picture there’s about 5 different uniforms. Have y’all been on a uniform site like Galls? And priced shirts and pants alone? It’s not cheap. Next up what about Cars? I see Supervisors in SUV’s, And several different styles of Patrol Cars. We are down at some of our parks several times a week. And see fully marked COP cars just hanging out. Our Sheriff certainly has expensive taste. And seems to not mind spending money. Why is Palm Coast paying for police services? Palm Coast is a city in the Sheriff’s jurisdiction. He’s legally required to cover. This Cowboy Sheriff has run unchecked in this county for too long. If cuts are coming start with his agency first.
Greg says
Hard to believe. You seem to piss away lots of money.
Greg says
They will all fight to keep their budget at full costs. I know, as I managed budgets for the facility I managed. If they don’t cut, just reduce by the percentage across all departments that satisfy the budget in whole
Pig Farmer says
What, Staly not get EVERYTHING he wants? Can you imagine?
/s
Deborah Coffey says
DOGE the Sheriff’s department. He is breaking the citizens of Flagler County…due to the county giving him every single thing he’s asked for since Day 1. Republican governance at its finest. /s
Joseph Barand says
Staley should take the entire hit, he has inflated every aspect of his office sense he took over, facilities, vehicles, personal, benefits, travel, etc.
Robjr says
What’s up?
These make “amerca” great red hat republicans sing a different tune when the cuts come home to roost in their departments.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Palm Coast is a failure! Our polititions failed the tax payers….this should be a city no more! Unicorperate & start fresh. Ever since that City Hall was built, P/C started its path to destruction. Councilmen & woman are ignorant, the commissioners are cry baby fools….they do nothing but give themselves a raise, for the 1/2 ass job they do.The only thing these folks know how to do is raise taxes,& piss away are money! The new mayor wanted to stop the building, until the traffic problems was fixed….But the good ole boys club, decided he was crazy. With are outrageous water bills, new & old home sit with no buyers, once they find out about the cost of water, & garbage, they move on to a better community that knows how to run things!!! We are skrewed, we are stuck here with no way out. My buddy just lost 30K for a 4 year folly to live in P/C. Many of us cant take that kind of a hit, we’ve invested in a place we call home.Polititions, lawyers, builders & GREED killed our city…. Time to blow it up & start fresh!
Duane says
Why is it that Volusia County keeps going to roll back but Flagler County has to increase their budgets.
Get a grip people.
The Sheriff doesn’t need all the toys.
What Else Is New says
So Staly thinks Federally we need DOGE??!! A preposterous Republican assumption. He approves of the massive unconstitutional DOGE cuts in programs essential to survival in our country, the police state in which we now live?
Sunny says
Funds to the Sheriff dept needs cuts. Unlimited undocumented budget. Toys galore now order special helicopter! Carney doesn’t value Flagler nor how government operates, wants 1 dept to fund beach @ employees expense. Actually do the work before you make idiotic ridiculous moves.
FlaglerLive says
No homesteaded property’s tax bill could have legally gone up by anywhere near that amount in nine years unless the property was vastly expanded with new construction in that span. It is different for non-homesteaded and commercial properties.
Joe D says
As a former Nursing Division Chief (now retired) for a State run Psychiatric program with control of
my own spending, the first thing you implement is a “soft” hiring freeze, where each and every new hire exemption had to be approved by a group. It allowed no ADDITIONAL staff positions, just CONSIDERED replacements.
The next focus was OVERTIME! In some cases, staff made more in OVERTIME than they did in their base salaries. There has to be UPPER LEVEL reviewing of overtime approvals ( not just a simple “sign off” by a supervisor).
Give EACH DEPARTMENT, a goal of say a 2% or 3% (or other number) budget cutting goal, and have each department group decide what gets cut ( THEY set the cut priorities of their own departments)
The next thing to be scrutinized is new SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES. It would be nice to have every new “bell and whistle” software or equipment, but we are not in a position to afford expensive toys! The budgets for equipment and software from other surrounding Counties should be reviewed for how THEY keep their budgets intact!
The final thought would be contracts for CENTRALIZED supply and service contracts. If it isn’t being done now, there should be competitively bided contracts (across the County) for toilet paper, paper towels, office supplies, external contractor services, electrical supplies, etc.
There shouldn’t be 20 separate contracts for computer paper, ink, laptop computers…if you consolidate (where reasonable) you should get overall better prices!
This isn’t ROCKET SCIENCE, and MAYBE, the County is already doing this…but I highly DOUBT IT.
Bo Peep says
All these new businesses and the forest stripped out all around us to make hundreds of new homes and we have a shortfall? Aren’t you collecting taxes and fees from the developers?
Laurel says
DOGE is a great idea until it becomes local! That is just adorable…and predictable.
Maybe the C.O.P. boat, and the Sheriff’s boat, cruising the ICW on Mondays really isn’t necessary.
But to the person who discussed uniforms may be right, just know that the laundering of these uniforms is deducted out of the employees’ checks every payday by the city. The city gets cheap on the wrong people.