Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain defended spending on law enforcement before a packed house Friday afternoon at Savannah Center.
McClain, a resident of Pedro who represents The Villages as part of his district, had been invited to appear before Community Development District 4 supervisors.
CDD 4 Chairman Jim Murphy said Villagers are concerned about lack of patrols, particularly when it comes to speeders on roadways in the Marion County section of The Villages.
Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair has waged now-legendary battles against the county commission over funding. He touched on the subject in a town hall meeting in The Villages in December.
McClain said the commission must look out for the interests of the 340,000 residents of Marion County.
The commission needs to consider the “economic reality” during the budgeting process, he said.
“We have to look at the economy and what it’s doing,” McClain said. “We need to look after the best interests of the taxpayer.”
He said that over the past few years, the sheriff’s budget has been boosted from $67 million to $72 million.
He said future concerns include retirement system funding the climbing cost of healthcare.
“Obamacare was a $1.3 million increase before we even got started,” McClain said, noting that the county offers what is considered a “Cadillac plan.”
On the March ballot, Marion County voters will have the chance to vote on a sales tax increase that should generate $166 million in additional revenue over the next four years, McClain said.
CDD 4 Supervisor Paul Kelly said he attended Sheriff Blair’s town hall meeting in The Villages late last year and heard the sheriff’s argument for the need for more funding.
Kelly pointed out the sheriff had argued that in Marion County the deputy-to-resident ratio is below the state average. There is frequently only one deputy on patrol in the district that includes The Villages and extends out to Weirsdale.
“It’s scary,” said CDD 4 Supervisor Chuck Kazlo.
McClain said he does not want to put the burden back on property owners and the commission is pinning its hopes on the sales tax initiative.
