Bradshaw: “Mandated and essential services”

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

“This is for mandated and essential services,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told The Boca Raton News.  He spoke on the heels of submitting a budget request to Palm Beach County commissioners that is $35.6 million higher than last year.

Nearly 80 percent of the PBSO budget is for personnel costs. And while the proposed $457 million budget is 8.5 percent higher than last year’s $417 million, Bradshaw pressed the point that it’s “bare bones – and less than what they expected me to ask for.” 

He explained that his budget includes about $4.4 million in higher revenues, thus reducing the $39.9 million increase to only $35.6 million.

Bradshaw said the proposed budget “honors contracts with vendors and it honors contracts with employees.  There’s no growth….no additional deputies, and only cost of living and merit increases” required by contract, he said.

“The union worked very well with us,” Bradshaw said.

The PBSO employs more than 3,800 persons, and expects to spend $10 million next year for gasoline alone.  The department covers all of Palm Beach Count’s unincorporated areas; more than 650,000 persons live in those areas.

In the meantime, the Palm Beach County jail expansion project – and with it, some additional future costs – is underway as follows:

• A $100 million expansion to the jail in West County, 38840 State Road 80, Belle Glade, adding 800 additional beds and support space.

• A $95 million expansion to the Stockade facility, 673 West Fairgrounds Road, West Palm Beach, to replace 500 beds which will be demolished to add expanded support space.

• A $15 million interior renovation at the main detention center, 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach.

Part of the new expansion will include construction of two new

Video Visitation Facilities.  These will allow inmates to have scheduled video visits with family members, attorneys, and court personnel from several locations within the county.