Oakland Park approves five‑year renewal of Broward Sheriff's Office contract; first two years include higher pay to retain deputies

The Oakland Park City Commission approved a five‑year renewal of its police services agreement with the Broward Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 8, adopting a ninth amendment that covers Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030. The amendment implements compensation adjustments aimed at holding staffing levels and reducing vacancy credits, while adding contractual caps on non-pension personnel costs in later years.

Why it matters: The agreement determines the city’s public-safety spend and staffing for patrols, school deputies and community programs. Staff and the sheriff’s office described the increases as market-driven adjustments intended to address recruiting and retention challenges countywide.

Key provisions

- Term and compensation: The amendment renews the five‑year contract and incorporates the results of a recruitment/compensation study. BSO proposed an initial pattern of increases; after negotiations the city accepted an amendment that phases in higher compensation in the first two years and caps personnel cost increases (excluding pension and insurance) to 5% in years three through five. The net cost increase for Oakland Park’s district was reduced from an initial 9.4% to about 8.1% in staff materials.

- Staffing adjustments: The amendment permits the elimination of two vacant community-service-aid positions (unfilled civilian posts that assist at events and with reports) and the addition of one sworn deputy focused on homeless outreach and parks enforcement. City staff said that change increases sworn deputies to 89 and non‑sworn staff to nine in the district staffing plan; overall district staffing was described as moving from 99 to 98 positions after the change.

- Vacancy credits and parity: The amendment updates how vacancy credits are calculated. Staff expressed the expectation that improved compensation will reduce vacancies, while the contract language allows the city to adopt more favorable vacancy calculations if other contract cities secure them.

Remarks from the sheriff and local leaders

Sheriff Gregory Tony phoned into the meeting and praised the commission and staff for their work, calling the negotiation process "the highest level of professionalism" and saying Oakland Park’s willingness to act "shows leadership for the county." Assistant City Manager Andrew Thompson and several commissioners acknowledged the cost pressures and emphasized the need to balance fiscal responsibility with public-safety outcomes. Several commissioners publicly thanked BSO commanders for responsive local service.

Vote and next steps

The commission approved the ninth amendment by roll call (unanimous, 5–0). Staff will bring the executed contract and implementation details to city administrative staff and monitor staffing, vacancy credits and actual payroll impacts during the fiscal year. The amendment’s first-year increases will be incorporated into the FY2026 budget and the city manager will track union negotiations and other cost pressures as part of ongoing budget monitoring.

Speakers and attributions (budget/public-safety discussion) - Sheriff Gregory Tony, Broward County Sheriff (government, caller) - Andrew Thompson, Assistant City Manager, City of Oakland Park (government) - Captain Anna Murillo Quigley, Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park District (government) - David Hebert, City Manager, City of Oakland Park (government) - Mayor Tim Lonergan, Mayor, City of Oakland Park (government) - Vice Mayor Steve Arndt, Vice Mayor, City of Oakland Park (government)

Authorities - type: other; name/description: "Agreement for police services between the City of Oakland Park and Broward Sheriff's Office"; referenced_by: ["ninth amendment vote"]

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