Sheriff budgeted to spend $1M more than last year

Even though Sheriff Richard Nugent will give $2 million of unspent budget money back to the county's general fund, he is still budgeted to spend some $1 million more this year than he spent last year.
According to the county budget office:
Nugent's budget for 2009-10 is $31.96 million, which includes the county giving him emergency management in February 2009.
His budget for 2008-09 was about $33 million, including emergency management.
Subtracting the $2 million from the $33 million (which includes emergency management), leaves $31 million that the sheriff spent on public safety in 2008-09 - almost $1 million less than he was given for his budget for this current fiscal year of 2009-10.
Even so, the sheriff still intends to discontinue the school drug-prevention program called DARE and shutter some of the community sub-stations.
Nugent said he must maintain a financial cushion, in case of such things as unforeseen overtime costs, fuel increases and hurricanes.
The $2 million give-back was in spite of the often-contentious budget sessions in September when Nugent described his department as cash-strapped.
Nugent said he tries to be conservative and estimate lower when forming his budget. That, he said, is being a good steward of taxpayers' money.
"Whenever we can save money, we do it," Nugent said.
"I am pleased the sheriff spent less money in 2009" (2.1 percent less than 2008), County Commissioner Jeff Stabins said. "That is excellent news, and it is important. But it is a trend that must continue because over a five-year period, the sheriff has spent 31 percent more than he spent five years ago."
Going forward, Stabins is suggesting Nugent reduce his spending by at least another 2.1 percent for this year while the county is in this economic crisis.
County Commissioner Dave Russell believes the sheriff, through cost-containment measures and more-efficient use of resources, was able to return the $2 million to county coffers, even though he is not obligated to do so.
Still, commissioners have asked to see the budget spreadsheets of all constitutional officers as they go through their budget year so the county can keep close tabs on spending practices, Russell said.