Alachua County constitutionals present continuation budgets; sheriff seeks pay and staffing increases

Court Administrator Michael Reeves and other constitutional officers presented their FY25–26 continuation budgets at an Alachua County Board of County Commissioners special budget meeting on May 6, 2025, focusing mainly on maintaining current services while flagging several upcoming cost pressures.

The meeting opened with routine approval of the agenda. Most offices said they were submitting continuation budgets but flagged specific increases they expect next year or asked the board to consider targeted additions now.

The public defender’s office told commissioners it is seeking an increase to cover sharply higher vendor fees for its case-management software (CIP) and to acquire video‑analysis software (Axon) that staff said would speed review of body‑worn- and surveillance-video evidence. The office said the CIP contract price is rising substantially (the transcript records an increase of about 88%), and the request includes roughly $38,000 that would be billed to other counties in the circuit. The office described the request as an investment expected to stabilize costs over a multi‑year contract and to reduce other budget pressures such as transcript costs and personnel time.

Rebecca Schimpach, introduced as the new executive director in the State Attorney’s Office, said that office is currently a continuation budget but is absorbing similar vendor cost pressures and has deployed a…