Kim Bogart's Plan to Improve Services and Save Money

These are financially trying times for all of us. It is imperative that our elected Sheriff strive to reduce waste and focus on conservation and efficiency at every opportunity. The hard-earned money that the citizens of Pasco County contribute toward the support and operation of our Sheriff’s Office should be treated with the greatest responsibility and frugality. Proper stewardship of public funding should seek careful investment for key priorities, not wasteful spending sprees. As your Sheriff, I will confront the misuse of taxpayer dollars as a foe, just as I do criminals.

The foremost responsibility of the Pasco County Sheriff, second only to the safety and security of our county and its residents, is to oversee the 86-million dollar budget. However, the incumbent steered a budget that ballooned 33-million dollars over the last seven years. This outrage earned a strong rebuke from other concerned elected officials. I know that we can do better, and that is why I am running for Sheriff.

One of the first actions I will take as your Sheriff will be to salvage wasted funds by conducting a cost-effect feasibility study to evaluate and recommend consolidation of services between the Pasco County Sheriff’s office and the County. There are always areas in which we can save money, spend less, and arrive at more efficient practices.

The areas requiring my immediate evaluation and focus include, but are not limited to:

--- Fleet Management: Enact efficient fleet management operations to save money, such as downsizing and eliminating vehicles; optimizing vehicle travel trips, operations, and maintenance; pinpoint ways to reduce the need to travel for administrative purposes; and seek out and utilize grants to purchase alternative fuel or highly fuel-efficient vehicles.

--- Purchasing: There are more effective ways to combine purchasing with the County to obtain the leverage necessary to negotiate better deals.

--- Restructure 911 and dispatch services: Through the reduction of administrative costs and draining of resources associated with maintaining parallel providers of duplicated services.

--- Human Resources Benefits, Insurance, and Employment Assistance Programs (EAP): Combine services with the county to gain leverage for negotiating better policies and rates.

My study of best practices in other Sheriff’s offices has afforded me the opportunity and knowledge to assess the details of plans that were successful, as well as those that were not, in other law enforcement agencies. This knowledge, combined with my skills and experience – along with what is in the best interest for Pasco County – is what I can offer you as your Sheriff. It is time to put better ideas to work for the people of Pasco County, utilize our tax dollars more effectively, save money, and realize better results, as we fully pursue a decline in crime and a better quality of life for our citizens.