Thanks John --- for helping the sheriff when Lehigh needs the new officers

FORT MYERS — Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott is fighting tonight to put more deputies on the road, but it appears he may not get what he wants. County commissioners have proposed cutting the sheriff's budget by $4 million.

Scott is fighting for his $127 million budget – the largest in the agency's history. Much of it, Scott says, will help put 135 new deputies (which 20 of these new officers would have been for Lehigh Acres) on the road and in courtrooms.

"What I have heard loud and clear from every corner of this county, 'We want more deputies,'" Scott said.

But county commissioners think Scott is asking for too much.

"This current sheriff's budget today, not even talking about the one for next year, is 50 percent of the entire operating budget of lee county. Fifty!" said county commissioner John Albion.

Commissioners plan to cut the budget request by $4 million, capping the increase at 15-percent.

"We figure that we'll have about $40 positions if the cap stays at 15-percent," Scott said.

Albion believes Scott isn't trying hard enough to make the numbers work.

"He's going to have to take it from somewhere else that should be potentially a lower priority. That's management, and that's what he needs to do," Albion said.

"A county growing this fast, internally there are only so many adjustments we can make that will keep up with that kind of growth," Scott said.

"When I look at inflation and population increases, we are probably looking at in the neighborhood of about six and a half, seven percent. He's asking for an increase of 19 percent," Albion said.

If commissioners cut the $4 million from the sheriff's budget, that doesn't mean a savings for the county. County staff is earmarking the money for crime prevention programs.

Scott says he will not appeal the budget, which takes effect October 1st, to the governor.