The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and the Escambia County Sheriff's Office have reached a mediation agreement in the sheriff's budget appeal for fiscal year 2017-18. The tentative agreement was reached in a mediation session held on Friday, March 9 and was approved by a 3-2 vote during the public portion of a litigation session held Thursday, March 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Approval of the agreement is the first step toward implementation of the new budget allocations for the sheriff.
Through the agreement, the BCC agrees to do the following as part of a four-year pay plan requested by the sheriff:
- A payment of $1 million in the first year, completely resolving the sheriff's budget request for fiscal year 2017-18.
- Beginning Oct. 1, 2018 and ending Sept. 30, 2021, the Sheriff's Office will be paid $2.6 million for two years and $2.9 million for the third year, which includes benefits and raises for the implementation of a pay plan. These payments will be in addition to the sheriff's operational budget adopted by the BCC.
- Beginning April 1, 2018, the board will reduce the remaining budgets for discretionary outside agencies by 50 percent, excluding Community Health Northwest Florida (formerly Escambia Community Clinics) and Pathways for Change. These funds will be used for the implementation of the sheriff's pay plan.
- The remaining 50 percent of the board's discretionary funds, totaling $125,000, will be paid annually during the life of the pay plan.
The Sheriff's Office agrees to do the following:
- Each quarter, pay 50 percent of the funds received in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, or LETF, to offset school resource officer expenses, where possible. When not feasible, the remaining funds of this 50 percent will be used to offset other statutorily allowed general fund expenses.
To view the mediation agreement,
click here. 
