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Council delays decision on sheriff contract; asks staff and counsel to try renegotiation before Dec. 2

Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town Council · November 5, 2025

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Summary

Council reviewed the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office municipal contract and heard that negotiations produced only a 1% reduction; the council did not terminate the contract but directed staff to continue discussions and to return Nov. 18/Dec. 2 with options including alternate enforcement models and potential budget offsets.

The council discussed the municipal contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the town's limited funds to pay the current rate.

Town staff said the budget covered October and November service but not December; the sheriff's office offered a 1% reduction and reportedly withdrew a request for added overtime for camera review. The sheriff's representatives told staff they treat the town as part of a county‑wide service model and said some requests (for example, to split commercial/residential service levels) were not acceptable under current contracting practices.

Council members expressed frustration at the size of the municipal contract compared with the town's population and discussed alternatives: (a) try to renegotiate with PBSO, (b) accept county-level unincorporated service if the town does not contract, (c) pursue a local police department (costly), or (d) explore limited, a la carte services with state or adjacent agencies.

Direction given: council asked town manager and town attorney to continue negotiating with the sheriff's office, to approach alternatives (Highway Patrol, Fish & Wildlife, adjacent municipalities) for defined services, and to return with options by the Dec. 2 meeting. No formal termination was approved; staff will also examine short-term funding options and potential reallocations to cover December service pending council direction.

Why it matters: the contract represents a major portion of the town's general fund obligations and has broad consequences for local policing levels, response times and municipal budgeting. Council set a near‑term tracking and decision schedule to avoid an unplanned lapse in service while preserving options for structural fiscal change.