Upcoming Events
Dawsy changes mind, will run again
Sheriff says he wants to oversee fire services transition
CRYSTAL RIVER — Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, fresh off a county commission decision that will bring fire services under his control, said Wednesday he will forego retirement plans and seek re-election to a fifth term next year.
Dawsy said he wants to provide oversight of fire services rather than hand it over to a successor after just one year.
“It needs stability from a leadership standpoint,” Dawsy, who first took office in 1997, told the Chronicle Editorial Board.
Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to hand fire-rescue operations to Dawsy, who said he could open full-time stations in DeRosa, Floral City and Sugarmill Woods without hiring more firefighters.
Dawsy said he can do that by reducing three-person shifts to two firefighters in all but two stations, and moving assistant chiefs and inspectors who now work regular hours to the 24-hour station shifts.
Dawsy and County Attorney Richard Wesch will negotiate a contract for services that will be brought to the commission for approval prior to October, County Administrator Brad Thorpe said.
Commissioner Winn Webb, who voted against the proposal, had announced his campaign for sheriff when he thought Dawsy planned to retire.
Webb said Wednesday his plans won’t change even with Dawsy back on the ballot.
“I knew after I announced he was thinking about it,” Webb said. “I made up my mind and I’m not going to change my mind.”
Dawsy’s proposal comes with an increase in the fire tax, which Thorpe said would be necessary whether Dawsy takes over the department or not.
“If the board doesn’t raise this millage we’re laying off firefighters,” Thorpe said.
Officials are proposing a 68 percent increase in the special fire tax — about $30 more for the average homeowner. It would raise $6.7 million.
The size of the proposed increase requires unanimous county commission approval. Webb said despite his vote Tuesday, he would support the fire millage increase.
Because of declining property values, the overall county tax bill for most homeowners should drop even with the fire tax increase. Thorpe said he will propose no change in the county’s general fund millage.
Commissioner John “JJ” Kenney, who also opposed moving fire services to the sheriff, said Wednesday he will support the bump in fire taxes to pay for it.
Chronicle reporter Mike Wright can be reached at (352) 563-3228 or mwright@chronicleonline.com.
Add new comment
Read and share your thoughts on this story
Ad Gallery
Copyright © 2012
ChronicleOnline is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Citrus County, FL and the surrounding area.
Jeff Dawsy 2012!!!
As a long-time Citrus County resident, I can tell you that Sheriff Dawsy has done an amazing job as sheriff and we as a community would be honored to have him for another 4 years or longer. The vast majority of the people in this county agree with me which is evident by past voting records. That being said, it is sad that only a couple of people comment on these stories and those happen to be the naysayers (i.e Berealistic).
Jeff Dawsy 2012!!!
SAW THIS COMING FROM A MILE AWAY
Sheriff Dawsy wasn't fooling anyone by insinuating that he would retire! That was a joke! Well, it's time for the County to take back all the government offices that Dawsy has consolidated into his MONOPOLY at the CCSO. No matter how bad his opponet appears in the 2012 election I will not be voting for Dawsy, that's for sure. All he is, is about taking taxpayer money and not providing a better quality of life for anyone around here. The services from the CCSO stink! We have bankrolled DAWSY'S whims for way too long and it's time to cut our losses. Let him go somewhere else where he may feel welcome like down in Miami, maybe St. Pete, hear they're having lots of problems. Just as long as he gets out of CITRUS COUNTY! Anyone that votes for DAWSY can expect a lot more economic hardships than what we have now! He isn't going to change and he will ask the BOCC for this and that & they will kiss his ass & give it to him just like they did with the fire consolidation situation! He's still going to give raises to his lazy, irritable, ill-mannered thugs, he calls officer's! He's still going to shift money back & forth through all the different offices he now runs which is considered FRAUD and he needs to be arrested! There's a whole list, I could go on for awhile but, bottom line is DAWSY NEEDS TO BE GIVEN HIS RETIREMENT, COURTESY OF THE VOTERS OF CITRUS COUNTY, NOT DAWSY COUNTY!
Brealistic
No Surprise Here
I have and will continue to support Dawsy, I always believed that his retirement hinged upon the consolidation of the Fire Services, and now his announcement to Run for a fifth term bears out my belief, however I'm not quite sure that this move wasn't more for monetary purposes rather than efficiency. It makes obvious sense that with increased responsibility comes an increase in annual income, one can assume that Dawsy will become just about, if not the highest paid County employee and it will increase his Retirement income.
I could not agree with you more.......
You are exactly correct this situation of giving Dawsy control of fire services is nothing but finacial gain and is great for building up his pay, his commnaders pay and their high risk retirements. All this while we employ fire chiefs for high saleries and fire supervisors in fire rescue and so forth. Now are taxes are going to be increased when they promised two days ago there would be no additional costs.
Why did they not just fund the fire department with the chief???
Can someone please tell me why the county did not provide the funding needed and continue with their fire chief operating the fire department?
Why does this county BOCC have to keep creating sub departments out of our sheriffs department? CCSO is not a business office, they are not an accounting office, they are not dog catchers, they wear guns and badges down there and are sworn to up hold the law and fight crime, why don't you the BOCC let them do just that.