Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office

Honorable Chairman Tommy Langford May 15, 2008
Board of County Commissioners
Gilchrist County
Trenton, Florida 32693

Dear Commissioner Langford & Board,

I am submitting the annual report for calendar year 2007, along with budget justifications for the 2008 -
2009 budget proposals. It has gotten extremely difficult to provide the level of service the citizens
deserve with the resources we have. Due to the property tax issue we have limited our requests to meet the
cost increases. We have followed your guidelines in submitting only a 15% increase in utility costs, 7%
retirement and a 7% insurance adjustment.

I have added the 2% wage increases for all positions in accordance with your recommendation and have
calculated a 71% increase (06/07 budget) in fuel costs. We still need to add at least one sworn deputy to
the judicial division now that the new courthouse expansion has been opened and is fully functional;
however we have not included this in our current proposal.

Last year we received five (5) new, equipped patrol vehicles, which was a tremendous relief on our fleet
and in maintenance costs. This year we have reduced our request to only two (2) patrol vehicles.

Our corrections budget has a significant increase due to the increased incarceration rate. Over 1,075
individuals were booked during the 2007 calendar year. Our daily average population was 38 inmates
(36-male, 2 female).

We have received over 120,138 calls and respond not only to law enforcement calls but most fire (total 201
fire calls) and animal control (230 calls) requests as well. We must also be prepared to respond to all
natural and man-made disasters. Even though the City of Trenton maintains their own Police Department, the
Sheriff's Office is routinely handling the majority of all calls within the city as well as the school
zones and traffic.

Even with an Animal Control Director and 2 animal control officers answering a total of 230 animal control
calls for service the Sheriff's Office responded to 187 of these animal calls. It is apparent from the
e-mail communications from the county attorney on behalf of the BOCC that you still don�t understand that
we do in fact respond to animal calls. I have requested that the legislature do away with the obscure 1951
special animal control act since it is outdated combined with the fact that we do have a detailed state
statute in addition to the animal control ordinance.

The training that my staff must complete far exceeds that of any other county department. With increased
liabilities, we find ourselves always evaluating our law enforcement training mandates as well as ensuring
that we are compliant (which we are) with the national Homeland Security recommendations (NIMS, ICS, etc.)
We appreciate the BOCC donating one of the old county ambulances; it will serve the county as our TRV
(Tactical Response Vehicle).

I am proud of my staff and the work that they perform daily in service to their community and this past
year by reducing the major crime index in Gilchrist County by better than a 23% reduction! Now more than
ever before we see increased violence, terrorist activity and school safety concerns throughout the country
which often place their lives in jeopardy. I know where their loyalty and commitment lies as evidenced by
their performance and dedication.

I can't predict what tomorrow may bring, but I can assure you that we're prepared to put our lives on the
line for the citizens of this county. Every single person that lives, plays, gets their education or
visits Gilchrist County is affected by the quality of law enforcement that we provide. We are so happy
that Gilchrist County was proclaimed the #9 rural county in the Nation to live! That says a lot to the
outside world and is a proud reflection of the quality of our citizens and our way of life!

We have found over the current year by adhering to the 2006/2007 budget that you approved for this year
(with a couple of additions) that rising costs has strained our ability to make our current payments.
Therefore even by adhering to your recommended guidelines, I by necessity am submitting a total budget (all
4 in-house budgets) which is a 3% increase over the prior year.

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for all the help
and support that I have received since being elected Sheriff for the past twelve years. As I prepare to
retire I can assure you that the Sheriff's Office is substantially sound, having no pending litigation
while maintaining the standards set by our policies and procedures.

Sincerely,

David P. Turner
Sheriff

Updated June 13, 2008