Crime & Safety

Jail Staff, Raises Top Sheriff's Budget Asks

Sheriff Chris Nocco wants to add 41 people at the jail and give his deputies a boost in pay.

A request to add staff at the Land O’ Lakes Jail to match the swelling inmate population and a small raise for employees top Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco’s budget wish list.

On Friday, May 31, Nocco released his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and the need for the funding for new jail staff is the lynchpin in his request to Pasco County Commissioners.

Nocco's spending plan totals $93.15 million, a 7 percent increase over the current year.

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“There’s nothing in there that’s extravagant,” Nocco said. “We’re asking for the meat and potatoes.”

Earlier this month, the jail recorded its highest numbers ever, cresting 1,500 inmates. That’s over capacity. Officials believe the population could reach 1,600 by the end of the summer.

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Right now, the third floor of the jail is only partially staffed. Nocco is requesting  $1.85 million to fully staff the third floor and "open" it up.

That would fund 41 new full-time employees. Of those new hires, 27 would be civilians working in the control room, which would allow the sheriff’s office to free up detention deputies to man the third floor.

“Even when the third floor is fully staffed, this jail will still be overpopulated,” said Maj. Brian Head, a member of Nocco’s command staff.  

Nocco believes a new annex should be built at the jail and take priority over a proposed new courthouse in Land O’ Lakes that would be located near the jail.  That is a long-term goal though, and he’s not explicitly requesting funding for that in this budget request though.   

Another ask in this year's budget is a 3 percent cost of living raise for all sheriff’s office employees, excluding Nocco and his command staff. That 3 percent amounts to roughly $1.9 million.

“I want the best deputies out there and serving their communities,” Nocco said.

Agency employees have not seen a raise in five years, Nocco said. In addition, the state requires employees to make a 3 percent contribution to their retirement plans and the federal government ended a 2 percent payroll tax break.

Retaining staff has been a challenge, and the agency is losing positions to neighboring agencies that are providing salary increases, Nocco said in his budget letter to commissioners.

Nocco is also asking for $900,000 to fund new vehicles for detectives. He said 2006 was the last time money was allotted for the purchase of detective vehicles. He is proposing buying Ford Fusions, which cost $5,000 less per vehicle than patrol car.

Nocco also pointed out some costs are beyond his control. One of those costs is a legislatively mandated rise in pension costs that will bleed the agency of $1.66 million.  

He points out the county has also added a .12-cent per gallon surcharge on its fuel pumps. That will result in a $95,000 rise in the sheriff’s office’s expenditures budget. The agency has usually bought fuel through the county, but Nocco indicated he is interested in looking at purchasing fuel elsewhere to lessen costs.

He said the sheriff’s office also looking at the idea of contracting jail medical services to the private sector.

The sheriff's office budget won't be finalized until County Commissioners give their final approval later this summer.

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