Following audits and criticism, the commissioner supports the Sheriff’s fast-rising budget, citing population growth and competitive wages.
By Ifhmalee Caceuis
Original Air Date: August 12, 2026
Host: Manatee County has been the target of a state audit which concluded that local spending is out of proportion. Last week, a local committee drew a different picture: Overall spending growth was aligned with population growth and inflation—except for one county department. WSLR News reporter Ifhmalee Caceuis talked to Commissioner George Kruse.
Ifhmalee Caceuis: The Government Efficiency Liaison Committee was created after a state review raised concerns that Manatee County’s spending had grown faster than its population. The local committee examined county expenditures from fiscal years 2022 through 2025 and used a benchmark of about 7.12% annual growth, based on population growth and inflation.
The committee ultimately found that the county’s overall spending growth was generally in line with that benchmark—except for the Sheriff‘s Office budget.
Kruse says the local review provided a closer look at the county’s finances than the state’s analysis.
George Kruse
George Kruse: I did not believe our expenses were growing at a rate that was multiple times inflation, as the state implied.
IC: But Kruse says looking at the countywide number can hide how much individual areas of government have grown.
The Sheriff’s Office was one of the largest contributors to the increase. But Kruse defends that, too. He says the growth was driven in part by the county’s expanding population and the need for additional deputies, equipment and facilities. He also says competition with neighboring counties has pushed up the cost of employing law enforcement officers.
GK: The reality is the sheriff’s budget went up 10% to 15% a year. All the rest of our expenses and all the rest of our line items most likely went up less than inflation.
IC: Kruse says Manatee County has been competing with other fast-growing Southwest Florida counties for a limited pool of trained deputies. As neighboring agencies increased salaries to attract officers, he says Manatee County had to respond to remain competitive.
GK: Deputy salaries and deputy benefits outpaced inflation.
IC: Population growth also creates additional demands on public safety, according to Kruse. He says adding thousands of residents means the county needs more deputies to maintain service levels, along with the equipment and infrastructure that come with those additional positions. Kruse says that makes public safety different from some of the other services the county funds.
GK: If 10,000 more people move here tomorrow, I’m not building a new library. But if 10,000 new people move here tomorrow, the sheriff has to hire more deputies.
Infographic via Gov. Ron DeSantis on Facebook
IC: As the county looks toward future budgets, Kruse says public safety will continue to receive priority, but commissioners still have a responsibility to question spending requests and make sure taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately.
He says that process does not mean automatically approving everything requested by the Sheriff’s Office.
GK: Do we just buy a sheriff 10 helicopters because he wants it? No. But are we more open to listening to his budget because his priorities take precedent over the other priorities? Yes.
IC: Kruse says commissioners have continued to question individual requests, including this year’s Sheriff’s budget, where he says discussions over the timing and need for some expenses resulted in a lower final request.
For WSLR News, I’m Ifhmalee Caceuis.
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