Orange Co. Sheriff's Response To Report On Pay Cut Legislation

Hello Ms. Alvarez:

I am happy to respond to your inquiry. I find this piece of proposed legislation to be very interesting. I, like many other public officials, have devoted the better part of my working career as a public servant. I certainly didn't become a Sheriff because of the pay or financial reward. If anything, I believe the salary is low when compared to the job duties and the pay for Chief Executives in private sector corporations with comparable budgets. As a sheriff, we do not accrue any form of leave time as other employees, but I can assure you that I work more hours than any of my employees. We don't complain about this because we enter these positions knowing the demand is great for our time in representing our constituents. If we perform the jobs as required, we will do so at great sacrifice to the needs of our own families. As a longtime public servant, I am not trying to get rich on the backs of the people; however, I should be adequately compensated for doing the people's work. When public officials are adequately compensated, the likelihood for corruption is greatly diminished and more quality candidates will aspire to hold public office. We must care for our families just like anyone else.

In addition, reductions in pay for elected officials are really only superficial in nature and will have insignificant impacts on overall government budgets. The overall compensation for elected officials equates to a rounding mathematical error for most government budgets.

It is for these reasons, I do not wish to take a voluntary reduction in pay.

Jerry L. Demings Orange County Sheriff