Deerfield Beach leaders press BSO on pay increase, reject demand to exceed 5% contract cap

Deerfield Beach city leaders and Broward Sheriff’s Office officials traded public statements and proposals at the Aug. 19 City Commission meeting as the two sides remained apart on funding for 2026 public-safety pay increases. City Manager Rodney Brimlow said the sheriff’s office asked for a total increase that exceeded the contract limit, and BSO responded in June with a service-termination letter that could become effective Sept. 30, 2025; BSO representatives said a revised offer delivered Aug. 18 brought the parties within “it is so close. It's actually less than 1%.”

The central dispute: Deerfield Beach’s existing contract with BSO includes a year-over-year increase cap of 5%. Brimlow told the commission that BSO’s initial “consideration letters” for 2026 asked for roughly $7.25 million more than the prior year — about $2.3 million above what the contract permits. Brimlow said BSO’s June 23 letter gave the city one week to accept terms that would have violated the contract or face cancellation; Brimlow said the city sought revisions and met repeatedly with BSO command.

Why this matters: The disagreement affects how police and fire pay raises are funded and whether current service levels continue. Brimlow said the city’s job is to hold BSO to the…