🌅 💰 Sheriff and County $5.7M Apart on Budget

It's Monday! And believe it or not, I'm going on vacation. Yep, the rumors are true LOL.

The newsletter is coming up on two years, and I think now is a good time for me to take a step back and to breathe a little bit. I will come back refreshed and rejuvenated. I'm having a hard time even imagining not writing this newsletter every morning, but everybody needs a break, including myself.

You all will still receive a Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday newsletter over the next two weeks with the support of our little Sunland team. This is possible because of J'Qwan and Brian. I might work a little bit LOL, but all in all, I want to just thank y'all for supporting the newsletter, supporting Sunland.

I'm going to be traveling and exploring, and I hope to come back with some new, fresh ideas. I'm also going to be responding to each and every email, text message, Facebook message, all the messages I'm behind on. I see them even if I don't respond right away, but I promise I will always make sure I get back to you. I'm also going to be mailing out some stickers and some shirts for people as well.

This is a vacation and me cleaning house. I hope you understand, and I thank you all so very much. See you soon.

☀️ Day: High of 93°F | Partly cloudy early, followed by scattered thunderstorms.
🌙 Night: Low of 74°F | Cloudy with periods of rain early. 70% chance of rain, rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:34 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:18 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 5:24 AM | 🌚 Moonset: 8:02 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "Ain't No Sunshine" — Bill Withers

St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro is requesting a $13.7 million budget increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. County commissioners are recommending $8 million. The two sides are now in budget workshops trying to find common ground 💰.

The core of Del Toro's argument is straightforward. The sheriff's office employs about 800 people and salaries are the biggest line item. He says deputies and professional staff have fallen behind competing agencies over the years and the department needs to stay competitive to recruit and retain people.

The $3 million chunk of the request covers new patrol vehicles. Commissioners are looking at ways to bring that number down and Commissioner Cathy Townsend raised the idea of privatizing the jail as one option. Del Toro pushed back directly: "I think, number one, we can do it better than anybody else can."

Worth noting: this kind of standoff is not unique to St. Lucie County. Indian River County went through a similar battle last year where Sheriff Eric Flowers sued the county after commissioners approved a $6.8 million increase instead of the $14 million he asked for. That one ended in a settlement earlier this year 👀.

Hat tip to WPBF reporter Angela Rozier for the original reporting on this one.

What's next: Budget workshops are ongoing. A tax rate decision is expected by July 21st 📅.

💬 What do you think about the sheriff's budget request? Tell us right here

Indian River County Administrator John Titkanich released a proposed $614.7 million budget that is $97 million less than this year's budget in anticipation of potential property tax revenue losses if voters approve Constitutional Amendment 3 in November. A Tax Reform Advisory Committee is being formed to evaluate budget changes, and the county is also considering stormwater utility fees as a potential revenue source. Public budget hearings are scheduled for September 9 and 16 at 5 p.m.

👉 Read more (Vero News)

Parking citations for vehicles exceeding posted time limits in downtown Fort Pierce begin today after a 30-day education and outreach period. The two-hour on-street parking limit is enforced from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in designated parking zones. The city also enforces restrictions on overnight parking at city parks and no parking in city-owned areas for over 24 hours. The program is designed to increase parking availability, improve traffic flow and enhance public safety in the downtown area.

👉 Read more (TCPalm subscription may be required)

Port St. Lucie SC released new renderings of its 6,000-seat stadium set to be built at the Walton & One development, a 46-acre mixed-use project along U.S. 1 and Walton Road. Groundbreaking is anticipated in November, with the stadium scheduled to open in early 2028. The team plans to begin play in 2027 at a temporary venue while construction continues. The $80 million project requires no taxpayer funding. The stadium will serve as a year-round gathering place for soccer, concerts, festivals and community events with flexible capacity expansion options.

👉 Read more (WPTV)

📋 Fort Pierce City Commission Budget Workshop – Monday, July 13, 9 a.m. Strategic plan update and presentation of proposed FY 2026-2027 General Fund Budget. City Hall Commission Chambers. Details

🏞️ FPRA meeting focuses on Jaycee Park, Jetty parking, Sunrise Center – Tuesday, July 14, 5:05 p.m. Water tank mural project ($60,000), pavilion roof replacement ($49,975), Jetty West parking lot design ($100,000), Sunrise Center elevator and public art improvements, King's Landing quarterly update. Details

💰 St. Lucie County BOCC budget workshops all week – July 8-15. Recommended budget overview, BOCC budget, constitutional officers, judicial agencies, outside agencies. Schedule may shift based on pace. Details

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