SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Sheriff's Office Required to Make Personnel Cuts in Wake of Upcoming Budget Shortfall

In a continuous effort to work closely with the Santa Rosa County Commission, Sheriff Wendell Hall has abolished numerous positions at the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office in an effort to ease the budgetary shortfalls that are approaching during the 2008-2009 fiscal year which begins October 1 st . Fourteen Sheriff's Office civilian employees have been given notice that their positions have been abolished, and there last day of employment with the agency will by July 12, 2008 . The positions include numerous administrative assistants, report takers, clerks, crime prevention personnel, Human Resource Specialists, custodial personnel, purchasing personnel, and the abolishment of the Sheriff's Office Victim Assistance Program. The personnel cuts are expected to ease the budget shortfall by $620,000.00, which is the total cost of salary and benefits for those employees. Another fourteen positions had already been abolished at the end of 2007. Those positions included 12 student assistants, 2 victim advocates, and 2 report takers. Those personnel cuts eased the budget shortfall by approximately $257,000.00 in salary and benefits. Sheriff Hall has also chosen not to fill 4 vacant law enforcement positions that had been vacated either through retirement or resignations. That decision will ease the budget shortfall by approximately $167,000.00 in salary and benefits. Sheriff Hall has also budgeted zero dollars for new equipment during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which includes not purchasing any replacement vehicles. Although the 2008-2009 budget has not been finalized, Sheriff Hall stated that additional cuts are expected in the near future. He has also stated that he has no intention of cutting any currently filled sworn positions at the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Hall stated, "Although cuts are being made, our Sheriff's Office will not do anything to jeopardize the safety of our citizens. We will continue to provide the same quality of service that is expected by the citizens of this county. My goal is to continue to keep this county one of the safest places to live in the State of Florida ". Sheriff Hall also stated, "This is the most complex task that I have had to undertake since my being elected as the Sheriff due to it affecting my employee's lives and their families. I regret that these cuts are necessary, because all of these people are wonderful employees who have given a great amount of time, effort, and dedication to this agency".

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net