Deerfield Beach and Broward Sheriff's Office at odds over 2026 costs; city prepares transition manager

Deerfield Beach officials opened an urgent discussion Aug. 5 after the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) told the city it would terminate contracted services Sept. 30 if the city would not accept higher costs for fiscal year 2026.

City Manager Rodney Brimlow said the dispute began when BSO submitted its May 1 “consideration letter” with personnel and other cost increases. The city asked BSO to modify the request because the contract contains a cap on certain cost elements; Brimlow summarized the cap as “essentially a 5% limit” on many personnel-related charges. He said the sheriff’s legal counsel responded on June 23: “if you are unwilling to allow the sheriff’s office to violate those caps, you have 1 week to decide. Otherwise, your services are terminated.” The sheriff’s notice took effect June 30 and lists Sept. 30, 2025, as the termination effective date.

Why it matters: the city says the combined BSO increases for police and fire exceed Deerfield Beach’s projected property tax revenue increase for the coming year. Brimlow told commissioners that the sheriff’s…