BROWARD COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony is once again clashing with county leaders — this time over what he calls a dangerous lack of funding for the men and women who protect Broward County every day.
“For seven consecutive years, as sheriff, I have submitted responsible and transparent budgets that reflected the real costs of keeping this county safe,” Tony said in a Facebook post. “And for seven straight years, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) has been denied full funding by the Broward County Commission.”
The latest dispute centers on the county’s decision to approve a much smaller budget increase than what BSO says is needed to maintain essential public safety services.
In an October 9th letter sent to Sheriff Tony, BSO Chief Financial Officer Oscar Llerena confirmed that the Broward County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt a recommendation from County Administration rather than the agency’s own proposal.
The BSO asked for $79.3 million more than the previous year which would represent a 9% budget increase to address increasing expenses in law enforcement and fire rescue and civilian departments. The county instead approved an increase of just $22.8 million, roughly 3%, which Llerena said “will not allow the Sheriff of Broward County to adequately carry out the powers, duties, and operations of this office.”
The agency faces a budget deficit which prevents them from delivering the promised salary increases for deputies and firefighters and non-sworn personnel.
The letter also detailed several failed attempts to find common ground with county administrators before the final vote. “Efforts to negotiate mutual concessions… to bring some level of resolution to this matter have failed,” Llerena wrote.
The decision comes at a time when other major counties in South Florida are investing heavily in public safety. The Miami-Dade County Commission approved nearly $93 million in new funding for its sheriff’s office — an 11% jump — while Palm Beach County signed off on an additional $116 million, about a 13% increase.
By comparison, Broward’s more modest 3% rise stands out — and not in a good way.
The BSO officials state that the minimal increase fails to solve the rising requirements particularly at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades because these facilities expect maximum passenger and cargo volumes. The county administration used $8.1 million from airport staff wages and $9.2 million from port staff wages.
The facilities need to enhance their public safety measures because their operational growth creates particular security concerns. The letter also points to the Broward County Convention Center expansion and nearby hotel project, partially funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, as developments that normally would increase, not reduce, staffing levels.
The Sheriff’s Office says it ran more than a dozen different budget models, including austere ones, but all came to the same conclusion: without the requested funding, BSO can’t maintain current service levels or deliver long-overdue pay raises outlined in a compensation study completed earlier this year by Evergreen Solutions, LLC. The research showed BSO employee compensation stands 19% lower than market rates after adjusting for regional expenses according to the sheriff who labels this difference as unworkable.
Despite those findings, the county opted not to fund the pay plan. Llerena said that under Florida Statute 30.49, the only remaining option is an appeal to the Administration Commission, a process that could escalate the dispute to the Governor’s Cabinet.
Tony has made clear he intends to take that step. “The organization failed to demonstrate sufficient responsibility through this minimal budget increase according to him in his Facebook post. He views this decision as proof that the commission continues to disregard public safety needs for Broward County.
For now, BSO’s fight for funding moves from the budget chamber to Tallahassee — and, as Tony suggests, into the public eye.
