Sheriff Warns Budget Cut Threatens County Services | Panama City Beach News

Sheriff A.J. Smith is warning Franklin County residents that a proposed amendment could slash his department’s budget by $630,000 annually—nearly 6.3% of their funding—threatening essential services like free car unlockings and accident scene assistance. With just 85 employees managing a $7 million operation, he compares his job to running a small city and urges voters to understand the real cost before casting their ballots. He’s not endorsing either side, but he’s backing the Florida Sheriff’s Association’s call for informed decision-making. Meanwhile, a Leon County judge has ordered the amendment’s language rewritten, giving the Attorney General nine days to comply. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a4bcd7cf229a4828