[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6207490,"mediaKeyId","3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e","parentId",3754659,"title","Hendry County discusses East Recreation MSBU alternatives; commissioners debate Montura exception and YMCA subsidy","audioSeconds",791,"startMs",2423000,"endMs",3214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e&start=2423&end=3214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e/thumbnail_2423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207490/Hendry-County/Florida/Hendry-County-discusses-East-Recreation-MSBU-alternatives-commissioners-debate-Montura-exception-and-YMCA-subsidy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207490-1459b224ca65dccd9538e5e9b99360e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774716895&Signature=OgbEHXHkf-zax4fdcsbo-61DpcGIrgFRT79k04xvhSrETUNqiQMcqU-eFLeQoBYSNsRS2t~l0GgC8PYzRwIcmWtzHZgp4gX-4cvXZMTKLN1hP2uHvUTO19derauVy2APQYR2UKPM52Wrf6rnRFZpW3Ob9DdrRPvmLp9~f7jUnp7VSIX8V9H5IicaCluX9xoe1N6EKizORnrtWjLmGzMbRXUcIL2Q7LK5f6zuzCDx2SgxdmLmbGY8X~g8-1BVg~4veBnwbIKYIj7UYV-GNk2JXMPMSjhdUIG-5McySk7tlgYOxB7GS0BCGrWEqQ5BUKZ~MvgDdMWd1x~CvhBf7BtcNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hendry County, FL ","date","2025-06-10T20:30:22Z","article","County staff and commissioners debated alternatives for the East Recreation MSBU at a Hendry County budget workshop on June 10, reviewing four possible rate structures and clarifying how a longstanding US Sugar donation is applied to summer-camp subsidies.

County Administrator Jennifer Davis and recreation staff outlined four alternatives ranging from a geographically tiered per-unit approach to a single uniform rate. Davis explained the base calculation and said, “This is the only MSBU that we were recommending an increase.” She identified a $150,000 interlocal payment to the City of Clewiston and noted the MSBU includes about 5,043 units.

Why it matters: The chosen structure will determine how much property owners pay and whether communities such as Montura, Harlem and Hooker’s Point pay the same per-parcel assessment. Commissioners discussed fairness when some areas have more parks and facilities than others and questioned whether residents outside townships use those facilities frequently enough to justify equal rates.

Key details: Staff outlined four alternatives: (1) location-based rates that vary by subarea, (2) a single uniform rate for all units, (3) a near-uniform rate with Montura set at a lower base, and (4) an approach that sets a base for Montura and spreads remaining costs across others. The single uniform rate option was shown as about $151.10 per unit; alternative formulas produced variations and trade-offs.

Commissioners also clarified how East Rec uses a US Sugar donation: the donation offsets costs for families with multiple children and subsidizes some summer-camp fees; staff described the amount applied for the YMCA as modest and handled separately from the MSBU rate calculation. Staff and commissioners noted Montura currently pays $40 and has historically operated its own recreation; some commissioners argued Montura should continue to have a reduced charge, others urged modest increases so Montura “has skin in the game.”

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a final rate tonight. Commissioners discussed an interim not-to-exceed formula—several favored setting a not-to-exceed rate and then lowering it before final adoption. One compromise discussed late in the session: Harlem at $151 (not to exceed), everyone else at $120 (or $129 in some calculations), and Montura at $45.32 (or rounded to $45) as a starting point for final negotiations. That was discussion-level direction, not a formal vote.

Next steps: Staff will incorporate commissioners’ feedback and return with final language and ballots for the formal rate-setting vote during the scheduled board meeting. Commissioners also requested records of program usage and a clearer East Rec advisory structure tied to the interlocal agreement so the county can better match expenditures to users.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hendry County BOCC Budget Workshop 6/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","County staff presented four rate alternatives for the East Recreation MSBU and discussed use of a US Sugar donation to subsidize YMCA summer-camp fees; commissioners debated whether to keep Montura’s lower rate or raise it modestly and proposed not-to-exceed figures for the budget process.","taxTitle","Hendry County, Florida","taxId",27816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207495,"LaBelle fire chief asks Hendry County for 'do not exceed' West Fire MSBU rate starting at Plan 3",178,1852000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e&start=1852&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e/thumbnail_1852000.jpg","/articles/6207495/Hendry-County/Florida/LaBelle-fire-chief-asks-Hendry-County-for-do-not-exceed-West-Fire-MSBU-rate-starting-at-Plan-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207495-df44b76b809a1a20fdc13fcb8f1c3246/orig.mp4?Expires=1774716895&Signature=iicVeOe90VCaTNDXG0pmkAGo9~WwLUthq9tyHpotK4gwwFgf8sg4mOuxHi9uF6DgOlUoEGRgreouR4MKe54fORUPBmSHdcevA0H13-BDmZZewtG2VKWTuGrf9v6QoDF6smOZkxXUCk6x-iGhBnkJmTSTji9Y4AH6jD6Hy6Q1y2MJYvbyLcI8gT-RbN2uu-J520fWG099Bgl1oLvaFkm9J-fnilYDqrE4jerW1wwwxLBmRpfVEksYa0uWj4ZSkmddHW2y0QToW7~08raYtevPOpVRUqgPjI3jQaPWW8U0gkD6DhNrZlQIKx1vRtC9NRrV5O5M~SJ8MVz0vVEcqYXJZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Brent Stevens of the LaBelle Fire Department asked the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on June 10 to set a “do not exceed” rate for the West Fire MSBU, recommending the board start at Plan 3 and work toward a rate between Plan 2 and Plan 3 in coordination with the city.

“We are here to request today that the board make a do not exceed value. And we would request that it start at plan 3 with possibly a reduction down to plan 2 or somewhere in between,” Stevens said, referencing a financial analysis by Finch and Associates that had been circulated to commissioners.

Why it matters: The MSBU rate will affect property owners in the West Fire service area and fund emergency response and readiness. Commissioners and staff discussed a recent community risk assessment and standards-of-cover analysis that the county and consultant commissioned; several commissioners said the study contained useful data on response times and resource needs but omitted some concurrency details.

Key details: Commissioners and staff noted the study’s findings about NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards and the potential to strengthen LaBelle’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating. County staff asked the board to set a not-to-exceed figure at the workshop so the county can proceed in the budget schedule; staff and the chief emphasized they need to see where the city of LaBelle itself will land before finalizing a joint rate.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a final MSBU rate tonight. Commissioners debated whether to set an upper limit higher so they can later reduce the rate (“we can always go down. We can't go up,” a commissioner said during the workshop), and several members urged caution because the city of LaBelle had not yet voted on a position.

Next steps: Staff will return with final rate language and interlocal considerations after LaBelle’s city officials finalize their position. Commissioners also discussed longer-term considerations, including whether the MSBU's capacity to fund NFPA-level readiness will become obsolete in three to five years without further planning and capital investment.","LaBelle Fire Chief Brent Stevens asked the Hendry County commission to set a 'do not exceed' rate for the West Fire municipal service benefit unit (MSBU), proposing a starting point at Plan 3 with flexibility to lower it toward Plan 2, while commissioners reviewed a consultant’s community risk assessment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207499,"Hendry County sheriff asks commissioners for $2.72 million budget increase, cites jail capacity and tech costs",1526,155000,1681000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e&start=155&end=1681","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3754659-1c4b7265c2d85e05c8aed42ec837b47e/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6207499/Hendry-County/Florida/Hendry-County-sheriff-asks-commissioners-for-272-million-budget-increase-cites-jail-capacity-and-tech-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207499-74790683a181384fc568b83006eded2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774716895&Signature=DnJxfjmYxm~uiRJvZ8ODN6M8f90YubK04TUmO18F3VBEgJVWgBcZy0swNhPHuYcWuBNPgMvVI1SqOGM6AWD~2UB0EBrIEB3~CUrz23zqETvky3oFOCbI5849deqiOFO9tUQjg3hhmU2s6k8aacSQXjKp9hAGKcglAOWxOqYqil51rasaDOTYdxjNCHCKZoSVPiiWwwhz6PWIjdG76KToBI18x6r~5buw1-MM-uLCl5-~9AhWFTQUEh8WBVmW9o3UmsDu32Pu~L0vjlCuULb05yGNf3rv12dFdAs~ePBFruZTuF757Pffhii5sRKpWnUSsg1Mo00vBTtZ13kUJoorjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Steve Whitten told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on June 10 that the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office is requesting a $2.72 million increase in its 2025–26 budget to fund new positions, equipment and a 5% cost-of-living adjustment.

Whitten said the 5% COLA request would total $652,000 and that the department is also budgeting for higher fringe rates and health-insurance costs. “Tonight, we've come before you to request an increase in our budget of 2.72, million dollars,” Whitten said. He told commissioners the increase would pay for two community service aides, two additional jail positions and one civilian records clerk, plus technology upgrades and capital outlay.

Why it matters: Whitten emphasized rising demand and limited jail capacity as immediate needs. He said the jail population is running “around 280-something” while the facility has 266 bed spaces, and a recent mock accreditation review recommended two additional jail positions. The sheriff also presented data showing calls for service rising from roughly 4,797 (Jan–May 2024) to about 7,000 in the same months of 2025.

Key details: Whitten singled out several budget line items. He described a roughly $500,000 annual cost for Axon services that cover body-worn cameras, vehicle cameras, license-plate-reading and cloud storage, and he listed IT upgrades at $390,000 and increased capital at $190,000. He said Axon’s platform also provides investigative tools and cloud storage that would be “into the multiple millions of dollars” to replicate in-house.

Whitten described the proposed community service aide positions as non-sworn civilian roles meant to handle non-emergency tasks—“burglaries that are not in progress,” certain crash reports, residential checks and VIN checks—so sworn deputies remain on patrol. He said those aides would not attend the full law-enforcement academy and would not carry firearms.

Regarding staffing, Whitten said Hendry County currently has about 90 sworn deputies (not counting 14 school resource officers) and cited an FBI benchmark of about 2.8 officers per 1,000 residents. Using the county population estimate discussed in the meeting (about 47,000), the FBI benchmark would imply about 132 sworn deputies.

Commissioners asked about recruitment and overtime. Whitten said the office still gives hiring preference to locals but hires from other counties when needed. He said previous hires approved by the commission the prior year have helped reduce crime and that added staffing would help reduce overtime but would not eliminate it immediately.

What was not decided: This presentation was part of a budget workshop; commissioners did not take a formal vote on the sheriff’s request. The sheriff asked for the board’s support during the budget process and for direction as the board continues to consider countywide staffing and facilities, including a longer-term discussion about jail capacity and potential funding sources.

Next steps: The sheriff said he will work with county staff, lobbyists and state/federal contacts to pursue funding for a new jail, noting that planning and construction can take several years. The commission and staff will continue to review the proposed operating and capital numbers during the budget process.

Ending: Whitten closed by noting the department’s recent reaccreditation recommendation, subject to adding the two jail positions, and thanked commissioners for the opportunity to present the request.","Sheriff Steve Whitten asked the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners to approve a $2.72 million increase in the Sheriff’s Office budget for fiscal 2025–26, citing growth in calls for service, jail overcrowding and rising costs for technology and cloud storage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hendry County discusses East Recreation MSBU alternatives; commissioners debate Montura exception and YMCA subsidy

LaBelle fire chief asks Hendry County for 'do not exceed' West Fire MSBU rate starting at Plan 3

Hendry County sheriff asks commissioners for $2.72 million budget increase, cites jail capacity and tech costs