$93,000,000 blows my mind. I’m flabbergasted and thinking. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. How many TV sets should one own? Our children are spoiled or neglected. We’re all living materially high. A decadent society! And yet, safety and security are at stake. So, pay the price! Hospital district spent $4,000,000 taxpayer dollars on a handyman building without doing its due diligence and “the taxpayers are stuck”. County Commissioners do your homework. City of Vero has its own problems. Where’s the outrage? I’m venting but not relieved.
Something doesn't seem right. It appears that the foundational argument for the substantial increase is to "keep up with the Jones," prevent officers from going to higher paid jobs outside the county. The analogy comes to mind of providing tax and other incentives to lure businesses, and doing so by offering more than competing cities. It often doesn't work out (there is research on this but that’s another topic).
Is it unrealistic to think that Indian River County is a desirable place to raise a family and participate in the community, and, therefore, in the long run a higher quality and motivated staff will result? This is organic retention and, in my opinion, over time quality (value) wins out over quantity (money).
I thought to add this: Our country being so materialistically biased, the solution to a problem is often: "more money." Schools have had this mantra for many years, and with huge increases in spending (and taxpayer burden) how has this worked out? Same with healthcare. And I suspect the same with the sheriff's department's budget request: "more money, problem solved." Oh yeah?
There is merit to your argument. But some of these pay disparities are pretty drastic. An officer makes a lateral move to another county and gets a 50% increase? That is huge.
I wonder if such a pay disparity is sustainable on the part of offering counties? Prices fluctuate for all products, including labor. Is the disparity we are witnessing a new norm because of a dearth of officers in Florida? Has a new pay level has become the norm? Or is it just St. Lucie County that is desperate?
Last year was $78. This year is $93 (which will likely drop for political job security reasons at least) after the board vets. At the minimum we should expect increases for pay increases and inflation for cost of operations.
New “toys”, as @Sunshine Journal mentioned last year should be highly scrutinized.
$93,000,000 blows my mind. I’m flabbergasted and thinking. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. How many TV sets should one own? Our children are spoiled or neglected. We’re all living materially high. A decadent society! And yet, safety and security are at stake. So, pay the price! Hospital district spent $4,000,000 taxpayer dollars on a handyman building without doing its due diligence and “the taxpayers are stuck”. County Commissioners do your homework. City of Vero has its own problems. Where’s the outrage? I’m venting but not relieved.
Something doesn't seem right. It appears that the foundational argument for the substantial increase is to "keep up with the Jones," prevent officers from going to higher paid jobs outside the county. The analogy comes to mind of providing tax and other incentives to lure businesses, and doing so by offering more than competing cities. It often doesn't work out (there is research on this but that’s another topic).
Is it unrealistic to think that Indian River County is a desirable place to raise a family and participate in the community, and, therefore, in the long run a higher quality and motivated staff will result? This is organic retention and, in my opinion, over time quality (value) wins out over quantity (money).
I thought to add this: Our country being so materialistically biased, the solution to a problem is often: "more money." Schools have had this mantra for many years, and with huge increases in spending (and taxpayer burden) how has this worked out? Same with healthcare. And I suspect the same with the sheriff's department's budget request: "more money, problem solved." Oh yeah?
There is merit to your argument. But some of these pay disparities are pretty drastic. An officer makes a lateral move to another county and gets a 50% increase? That is huge.
I wonder if such a pay disparity is sustainable on the part of offering counties? Prices fluctuate for all products, including labor. Is the disparity we are witnessing a new norm because of a dearth of officers in Florida? Has a new pay level has become the norm? Or is it just St. Lucie County that is desperate?
I am told Martin is going to also be coming up to those numbers as well.
Last year was $78. This year is $93 (which will likely drop for political job security reasons at least) after the board vets. At the minimum we should expect increases for pay increases and inflation for cost of operations.
New “toys”, as @Sunshine Journal mentioned last year should be highly scrutinized.