SHERIFF’S BUDGET AGREEMENT

The Escambia County Commission and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department have reached an agreement on the Sheriff’s budget. The agreement is similar to one reached in March but establishes a reserve fund for any future cost of benefits increase for the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff David Morgan appealed his budget to Governor Rick Scott, requesting at least 2 million dollars in additional funding for pay raises for deputies. The new agreement provides 1 million dollars in additional funds this year, 2.5 million next year, 2.6 million in the 2019-2020, and 2.9 million dollars in the final year. The deal also calls for the Sheriff’s Office and county to work together to dismiss the budget appeal currently before the governor’s office.