Sheriff Scott addresses FMB Chamber members
On the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott discussed issues such as his department’s budget, the county jail population, school resources officers, the West District’s new facility and stimulus money at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on Lani Kai’s Aloha Deck.
Scott, who has lived in Southwest Florida all his life, said that “everything is cool” during budget time for Lee County Sheriff’s Department. No reduction of services is expected.
“Fortunately, we are not going through these layoffs and furloughs,” he said. “We have been able to reduce this year’s budget from last year by three percent which doesn’t seem like a big number, but when we’re talking about $154 million, it is significant.”
Scott explained the actions taken to reduce that load.
“A big area will be pay rates,” he said. “Regrettably, staff won’t get a pay raise but everything else is in place. It’s been a little easier to deliver that message given the fact that when you look around and see different agencies and staffs are laying off people.”
His budgetary talk then focused on the reduced County jail population.
“Our jail population is down 2,500 on a average daily population,” said Scott. “We’ve been able to keep that budget in check.”
According to Scott, the only issue up for debate is the funding of school resource officers.
“There’s a serious discussion about discontinuing the funding which would not allow officers to remain in the school system,” he said. “The history in Lee County is in the last 30 years, officers have been in schools. Most of it involves a friendly interaction; a mentoring type scenario. If you want to know who did vandalism at Estero Community Park just a couple of weeks ago or who’s selling drugs, ask a 15-year old. They know. Our officers are in the schools developing information that’s helpful to the overall effort as well as preventing theft, crime and things of that nature.”
Scott spoke about increasing communications with the West District’s new facility on Pine Ridge Road. He also gave kudos to Captain Matt Powell, the West District’s commander.
“We’ve been transient ever since the roof caved in a few years back on our older building on San Carlos,” said Scott. “It’s a real nice facility and we’re excited about that. We share it with the tax collector and the Iona-McGregor Fire Department.”
The county sheriff joked about background checks and gave his take on the matter.
“The reality is that it is impossible for me or any candidate running for office to check every single person that they become familiar with,” Scott said. “I don’t hide from issues or I’m not bashful to speak about good news or bad news.”
Scott fielded a question from a local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member about the prison population by saying “repeat business is my biggest frustration as a law enforcement officer” and that “it doesn’t make sense that society would allow someone to become a career criminal.” He then applauded the coast guard’s efforts.
FMB Chamber President John Albion asked for comment on the stimulus money that the Sheriff’s Office did not take.
“The reason we didn’t take stimulus money is very simple,” said Scott. “The stimulus package would have been 30 new positions, and it would have paid for the first three years. The fourth year we, as taxpayers, would have to fund those positions. We trying to stave off those layoffs. We can’t guarantee and front load those positions four years from now. We couldn’t really rationalize that.”
The local chamber and its members will meet for lunch next month Oct. 8 at Matanzas Inn.