JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels is asking for an unprecedented amount of money to support new technology and new hires in his department, but the county commission says it would take up half their budget if approved and likely result in a tax increase.
"I have to put on paper and at least put out there what we actually need," said Daniels.
According to Sheriff Daniels, what they need is $10.2 two million.
"It’s my job to meet the operational needs of the agency, it’s their job to pay for it," he said.
After months of saying they were understaffed by at least 50 to 60 deputies, he brought it to the attention of Clay County Commissioners Tuesday, asking them to set aside that hefty amount for next year’s budget.
Commissioner Wayne Bolla says it would likely result in a tax increase, and if not that, then they would resort to major cuts or other projects would have to go unfunded to make it a reality for the sheriff's office. He’s hesitant for other reasons too, saying that previous allocations of money seemed difficult to track.
"It is a [concern] to a degree. We depend on the sheriff to do his thing, it is difficult at times to see where the money is actually going," said Bolla.
As Daniels remains under investigation following an affair that became public, he says morale remains high in his department and he believes employees and county officials can "separate his private life from his public life" to understand their needs.
He says low salaries are the reason it’s difficult to retain employees. According to data provided by the sheriff, they offer some of the lowest salaries in the state, with civilian employees starting in the 20-thousand dollar range.
"The majority of folks left because of pay unfortunately," he said.
However, the funding he’s requesting would still not increase starting salaries. It would go toward funding new technology and 61 new positions, including 25 deputies, which he says is crucial to keep up with the growth of Clay County and keep crime at bay.
The county commissioners will meet one on one with the sheriff in the coming days. Next Tuesday they will set a ceiling for how much money total will be allotted in next year’s budget before they can move forward.
Sheriff's data presented to commissioners:
