For the first time in history, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office budget is set to top $1 billion next year — a $116 million jump over the current spending plan.Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told WPBF 25 News Investigative Reporter Terri Parker the increase is about keeping people safe, not splurging on extras.“Well, because we’re going to use all that money to protect you. You know, we had a 17% reduction in crime last year. So the money that we have and we’re using is to protect you and reduce crime, which we did,” Bradshaw said.The new state Department of Government Efficiency — known as Florida DOGE — is expected to be in the county next week. Parker asked Bradshaw if he’s worried about what DOGE auditors might find when they look at his budget.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“They can come over, look whatever they want to, because our money is spent protecting the public. The last time I checked, the governor didn’t want to defund the police,” he said.Bradshaw said roughly 80% of the sheriff’s budget is personnel — deputies, corrections officers and staff — and that rising costs for salaries and insurance are pushing expenses higher.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.“And it’s going to go up every year because you try to give them a cost of living … insurance premiums go up. So it’s going to go up,” Bradshaw said.Critics have focused on big‑ticket items like 600 vehicles, but Bradshaw argues that delaying purchases only leads to safety risks.“You know, you got vehicles with 175,000 miles on them. That’s not good. That’s a dangerous vehicle,” he said.He also pointed to helicopters, armored trucks and technology upgrades as essential tools for a county with a coastline to patrol and sprawling geography.“You’ve got one of the best sheriff’s offices in the nation — and the people in this county should be very, very proud of it,” Bradshaw said.What’s next: County budget workshops indicate the sheriff’s plan is likely to pass. There will be two public hearings next month: Sept. 9 at 5:05 and Sept. 16 at 5:05 at the Palm Beach County Governmental Center in West Palm Beach.Top Headlines:Tropical Storm Erin forecast to become a hurricane in next few days over central tropical Atlantic
For the first time in history, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office budget is set to top $1 billion next year — a $116 million jump over the current spending plan.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told WPBF 25 News Investigative Reporter Terri Parker the increase is about keeping people safe, not splurging on extras.
“Well, because we’re going to use all that money to protect you. You know, we had a 17% reduction in crime last year. So the money that we have and we’re using is to protect you and reduce crime, which we did,” Bradshaw said.
The new state Department of Government Efficiency — known as Florida DOGE — is expected to be in the county next week.
Parker asked Bradshaw if he’s worried about what DOGE auditors might find when they look at his budget.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“They can come over, look whatever they want to, because our money is spent protecting the public. The last time I checked, the governor didn’t want to defund the police,” he said.
Bradshaw said roughly 80% of the sheriff’s budget is personnel — deputies, corrections officers and staff — and that rising costs for salaries and insurance are pushing expenses higher.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
“And it’s going to go up every year because you try to give them a cost of living … insurance premiums go up. So it’s going to go up,” Bradshaw said.
Critics have focused on big‑ticket items like 600 vehicles, but Bradshaw argues that delaying purchases only leads to safety risks.
“You know, you got vehicles with 175,000 miles on them. That’s not good. That’s a dangerous vehicle,” he said.
He also pointed to helicopters, armored trucks and technology upgrades as essential tools for a county with a coastline to patrol and sprawling geography.
“You’ve got one of the best sheriff’s offices in the nation — and the people in this county should be very, very proud of it,” Bradshaw said.
What’s next: County budget workshops indicate the sheriff’s plan is likely to pass. There will be two public hearings next month: Sept. 9 at 5:05 and Sept. 16 at 5:05 at the Palm Beach County Governmental Center in West Palm Beach.
Top Headlines:
Tropical Storm Erin forecast to become a hurricane in next few days over central tropical Atlantic