The Broward Sheriff’s Office on Thursday put a big number on the table: roughly $937 million to fund operations in fiscal year 2027, a jump of about $103.5 million from last year’s adopted budget. The ask came during a county budget workshop and immediately drew pointed questions from commissioners about rising staffing costs and how, exactly, the county would pay for it. Sheriff Gregory Tony did not attend in person and watched the discussion via livestream.
What BSO Is Asking For
According to Broward County, the sheriff’s FY27 request totals $937.4 million in generally funded resources, up from the $833.9 million adopted for FY26. The packet shows personnel services would account for about $758.4 million of that total, roughly 80%, and the agency is seeking a net increase of 50 positions, bringing staffing to about 3,873. Dispatch, vehicles and capital requests are also set to rise sharply in the presentation and are cited as primary drivers of the overall increase.
Commissioners Push Back
County commissioners were quick to question whether the county can absorb that kind of jump without cutting or delaying other services. "Tony asks us for more money than is available," Commissioner Steven Geller said, while Mayor Mark Bogen warned the request may be difficult to accommodate, as reported by Local10. Undersheriff Steve Robson, who walked commissioners through much of the packet, said deputy starting pay trails other agencies and that turnover is fueling the staffing and pay proposals in the request.
Deerfield Beach And Contract Cities
The timing is complicated by Deerfield Beach's decision earlier this year to end its longtime BSO contract and build its own police and fire departments, a shift that has scrambled long-term planning. As WLRN reported, that split, along with interest from other municipalities in rethinking BSO contracts, has sharpened scrutiny of how countywide public-safety costs are allocated. The sheriff’s budget packet also highlights a rollover of prior-year funds and breaks out contract and fire-rescue line items that will affect municipal bills next year, according to Broward County.
What's Next
The county budget process will run through the summer and wrap up with two public hearings and a final adoption in September, ahead of the Oct. 1 start to the fiscal year. As reported by Local10, commissioners will spend the coming months weighing revisions and trade-offs before voting on a final number. BSO declined a request for a follow-up interview and referred questions to the remarks delivered at the workshop.
