Flagler County sheriff asks Palm Coast for funding to keep deputies, expand traffic and jail operations

Sheriff Rick Staly told the Palm Coast City Council on July 22 that Flagler County is asking the city to continue funding enhanced law-enforcement services and to help cover rising personnel costs, retirement contributions and operating expenses. Staly said the county provides policing, court and detention services across Flagler County and that the county jail has a statutory capacity of 404 inmates but “we currently are averaging around 200 inmates a night in the jail.” He told the council his office handled almost 112,000 calls for service in 2024 and made 3,203 arrests. Staly outlined line items driving budget pressure: recent Florida Retirement System rate increases, a 15% rise in health-insurance premiums and full-year funding for deputies added midyear. He summarized the city’s proposed share to maintain existing services and to fund additional deputies: “To maintain existing level of services is $797,000,” he said, and for nine additional deputies the figure is roughly $1,089,000. Why it matters: The sheriff framed enhanced services as a joint investment in public safety. He said the county is pursuing a three-year catch-up to staffing and that Palm Coast’s contract covers an enhanced level of patrol, school resource deputies and other positions beyond the county’s basic service. Other details: Staly told the council the county is proposing to transfer the county-run 911 communications center employees to the Board of County Commissioners so the county owns the facility and equipment while employees would become county staff; he said the transfer would reduce duplication and comply with a Stoneman Douglas Commission recommendation. He also reported that grants brought $2.6 million back to the community in FY2025 and described jail reentry programs — HVAC and electrical apprenticeships, an inmate work crew and an “Inside Out Dad” fatherhood program — that operate in the detention facility using inmate-welfare and grant funds. Council response and next steps: Council members asked for additional operational metrics tied to the new deputies — how much deputy time is “obligated” to calls versus proactive patrols — and asked the sheriff to provide those KPIs in future budget discussions. No formal vote was taken at the workshop; council members repeatedly expressed support for the sheriff’s request but asked for data to evaluate added deputies’ effect on traffic enforcement and neighborhood quality-of-life calls. Ending: Staly said he will present a more formal package to the county commission in August and requested the council’s ongoing support as the county and city implement the multi-year staffing plan.