Sheriff Spells Out Disagreement With Tax Watch Report

August 13, 2009

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released a response to a 2009 Special  Tax Watch Center for Local Government Studies Reported that indentified potential cost reducts for the ECSO between $12.3 and $27.3 million in comparison with peer counties in Florida.

morganpub.jpgEscambia Sheriff David Morgan is not in agreement with the findings about his office in the $100,000 study funded by the Escambia County Taxpayers Association.

The Tax Watch report compares Escambia County to “peer” counties Leon and Marion and finds that Escambia spent $315.48 per resident to serve 258,527 people in fiscal year 2008. That compares to $269.74 per person to serve 272,535 people on Marion County and $222.41 per person to serve 272,896 people in Leon County.

“We would certainly sit with TaxWatch and listen to their recommendations,” Morgan told NorthEscambia.com. “But their data is flawed.”

“Unless you are willing to take reduced police protection, we can’t cut more than we have,” he said. Morgan has trimmed about $4 million off the $81.5 million department budget for the next fiscal year — without cutting jobs. “We can’t take a work order when someone calls the sheriff’s department. We are going to answer every call while we spend tax dollars in a wise and prudent manner.”

Major points in the sheriff’s office response to the Tax Watch report include:

  • The Taxwatch Report, in comparing Escambia and Leon counties, claims that the ECSO does not provide services to City of Pensacola residents, while the Leon County Sheriff’s Office does serve the City of Tallahassee. This is an inaccuracy, as the ECSO does provide services within the city. The response breaks down those services.
  •  To make a more accurate assessment of the ECSO, the response was broadened to include eight counties for the purpose of comparison, rather than just two. It also provides further research into to extenuating circumstances and irregularities that would make comparisons inaccurate.
  • While the Taxwatch report used only two points of comparison, the ECSO response addressed 22 different standards of comparison.

Click here to read the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office response to the Tax Watch report (pdf format).

Click here to read the entire Tax Watch report (pdf format).

Comments

4 Responses to “Sheriff Spells Out Disagreement With Tax Watch Report”

  1. A. Davis on August 14th, 2009 7:15 pm

    Our sheriff is trying to fix alot of the problems thats been going on for years. And as far as them eating at midnight if its over about an hour I think there might be a problem but still They are still able to respond to calls. If its a problem report them maybe if that would have been done over the years our sheriff wouldnt have to worry about this now. I am not a fan of the police well really I think the system is messed up, but at the same time I can respect the police be cause without them what would we do they are doing a job most people wouldnt do. I cant understand out of all the money wasted in this county people are so fast to judge our new sheriff. Please Mr.Morgan dont give up on us remember people wanted and needed change thats why your here thank you.

  2. Tim on August 14th, 2009 2:48 pm

    Ronnie McNugget inflated the budget to what it is today. You cant cut it in half overnite , nor should you need to. Give Mr Morgan a chance, he’s already shown you that he’s the right man for the job.

  3. David Morgan on August 13th, 2009 7:33 pm

    Dear “Come On”,

    I respectfully request that you read the report prior to making comments, or providing opinions. Case in point; “Other departments of comparable size” ARE NOT operating 12-27M below the budget of the ECSO. In fact each one is considerably higher. That was (and is) the point to our response to the Tax Watch report. As I asserted in the first NorthEscambia interview, they were using flawed data.

    We (the staff) have briefed the Tax Watch representative and now have their concurrence with our figures. They will be supporting our budget as submitted with the exception of the requested (as per union contract) 3% pay raise.

    As for the alleged misuse of patrol vehicles please report these officers (by patrol car number) and appropriate action will be taken.

    Officers are allowed to use thier patrol vehicles for off-duty employment (security), but they also must reimburse the ECSO for its use for gasoline, etc.

    We have (at the beginning of my administration) taken vehicles as a matter of course from administration (we use a pool now). Only validated need is allowed.

    Having said all that, the use of a county car is also one of the few ways that we can off-set the low pay (again see our report) of officers and support personnel. We are some of the lowest paid in the state, and by the state standard of officers per 1000 residents, we are 66 officers short.

    Hopefully this allays some of your fears as to the waste at the ECSO.

    Thank you for your continued oversight and concern for the operation of the ECSO.

    David Morgan, Sheriff
    Escambia County, FL
    436-9512

  4. Come on Sheriff......... on August 13th, 2009 11:49 am

    Come on Sheriff, if these other departments of comparible size concerning area, citizens, etc. can operate 12.3 – 27.3 MILLION dollars below your current operating costs, then you DEFINITELY still have fat that can be trimmed.

    Nobody likes to take cuts, but in these difficult times everyone must including your department. You can start by holding your deputies more accountable in the use of their tax payer paid vehicles and equipment.
    - We should not see deputies shopping at Lowes in patrol cars.
    - We should not see marked and unmarked cars being used to drive families to school, work, church, etc.
    - we should not see six patrol cars parked at a Waffle house at midnight.
    - You should not be permitting deputies to use thier tax payer funded vehicles and equipment to work at private businesses for personal gain ie; overtime pay.
    - Every uniformed and undercover officer (patrol and administrative) does NOT need a personal patrol car. They can drive themselves to and from work just like the rest of us.

    These issues alone could probably cut a couple million per year.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News