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Sheriff: sales and revenue down; office contracts with family court for PFAs as new revenue stream
Summary
Sheriff Phillips told County Council on May 8 that sheriff sales and related revenue have declined and that the office is exploring serving family‑court protection orders as a new revenue source.
New Castle County Sheriff Phillips summarized his office’s FY26 position at the May 8 budget hearing, telling County Council the office is not requesting additional expenditures but is seeking to diversify revenue as sheriff sales and associated revenue have declined.
Phillips said the sheriff’s office — which serves the courts by serving documents and handling sheriff’s sales — has no arrest powers and “we do not have arrest powers” for enforcement; the office does not handle prisoners or make arrests. He said the office has reached a contract with family court to serve protection‑from‑abuse (PFA) orders, work that the office has handled for about 30 days at the time of the hearing and that may generate new revenue. Phillips introduced his two chief deputies, Jamie Meyer and Ron Fioravanti, and thanked council for past support.
He said the office is proud of its workforce diversity (about 33 percent nonwhite and a roughly 50/50 gender split) and noted that sheriff sales being down is a positive sign for residents but reduces revenue. Council members asked about training and safety when deputies serve PFA orders. Councilman Street said that carrying a gun and performing PFA service feels like law enforcement and expressed concern about training and safety. Phillips replied that the office does not have arrest powers and that deputies are instructed to retreat and call the law‑enforcement agency with jurisdiction if they encounter a dangerous situation.
The sheriff’s presentation did not include a request for added spending but described the family-court work as a potential, operational revenue stream to be monitored as it develops.
