Sheriff Flowers calls for $10.7M budget to raise deputy salaries in urgent meeting

In a heated budget workshop on July 9, 2025, Indian River County officials confronted the pressing need to increase deputy salaries, with Sheriff Flowers emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "We’ve scraped by for years, but we can’t keep doing this," he stated, highlighting the struggle to retain qualified personnel due to inadequate pay.

The sheriff's primary objective is to raise starting salaries for deputies, which he argues is essential to maintain a competent workforce. He shared a poignant example of a young deputy who left for a higher-paying position elsewhere, underscoring the financial pressures faced by law enforcement officers in the county. "At $52,000, I can’t keep these people," he lamented, stressing that competitive salaries are crucial for community safety and officer retention.

The discussion revealed a stark reality: the proposed budget falls significantly short of the $10.7 million needed to meet salary demands. Sheriff Flowers pointed out that the current personnel budget of approximately $9 million does not account for essential operational costs, leaving little room for necessary resources like medical care and equipment.

Vice Chairman Law echoed the sheriff's concerns, urging fellow commissioners to collaborate on finding a feasible solution. "We need to work together to figure out what it’s going to take for salaries alone," he said, acknowledging the financial constraints but emphasizing the importance of addressing deputy pay.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency for a budget that adequately supports law enforcement was clear. With the county facing challenges in funding, officials must now navigate the complexities of budget allocations to ensure that deputies are compensated fairly, ultimately impacting community safety and morale. The next steps will involve further discussions on operational expenses and potential revenue sources to bridge the funding gap.