Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen plans to visit the Broward Sheriff’s Office Research, Development and Training Center on Monday to see how the agency spends its budget. The county launched an investigation into BSO spending on Friday, after Sheriff Gregory Tony said on social media that he was suspending budget negotiations over the office’s $850 million budget.
The dispute follows a county vote to pull fire rescue out of BSO control. Commissioners also discussed looking at other public safety options at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades.
Bogen said he was aware of a gym at the training center and an earlier audit, but said he did not realize the extent of what he called excess. He said the county owns the building and BSO is a tenant. He also said the sheriff has told him the county will not be let in.
If access is denied, Bogen said the county has scheduled an emergency meeting for Tuesday at 9 a.m. with an agenda item to take legal action.
Commissioners say Tony has not been transparent about budget allocations. The sheriff says all BSO audits are posted on the department’s website. He called the county’s claims a series of lies in a video posted Friday, and on Saturday he said the commission was deliberately tearing apart the state’s largest public safety organization.
BSO has declined to discuss the investigation on advice of legal counsel. Tony is a constitutional officer, so the county’s request may amount to no more than a public records request, and he controls how his budget is spent.
