Another tense exchange between Alachua County Commissioners and Sheriff Sadie Darnell. Darnell wants commissioners to give her an extra half million dollars for this year's budget. Now she wants more money for next year's budget.
This year's budget battle, which still hasn't been settled, was fresh on everyone's minds, as Darnell brought her new budget presentation before commissioners this afternoon.
Darnell gave a detailed report of Sheriff's Office functions, trying to make the case that she'll need an additional $5 million.
Then the discussion became adversarial.
Darnell said, "I have found that not only is the detail of your inquisition, as much as the tone of your inquisition to be disrespectful not to me, so much as the men and women of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office."
Commissioner Mike Byerly said, "We have never accepted as part of our budget process that the amount of that we will give to Environmental Protection for instance, is what the department head says he needs or wants. We always question those things, we always ask questions. We try to consider all the needs simultaneously."
Commissioners and the Sheriff discussed possible compromises for settling their current budget dispute without continuing the appeals process at the state level, but no agreement was made.
The two sides will next meet at the end of May.