SANTA ROSA BEACH — The Walton County Commission will hear a proposal from Sheriff Mike Adkinson on Monday to help keep deputies in all schools.
Adkinson will ask commissioners during their budget hearing to help him cover the cost of keeping the six additional school resource deputies in elementary schools.
“It’s pretty clear to us that there is wide and overwhelming support for SRDs,” Adkinson said.
The six deputies were placed in the schools shortly after 20 students and six educators were shot and killed last December at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The deputies initially were placed in the schools by reducing other areas of the Sheriff’s Office, but Adkinson said he hopes to find a recurring revenue source that will allow him to keep a full department and deputies in all schools.
The average salary of one school deputy is between $45,000 and $50,000, Adkinson said.
The Walton County School Board voted Aug. 20 to provide $307,500 for salaries associated with the district’s 14 school deputies and one supervisor.
If commissioners don’t approve his proposed budget, Adkinson said he will look into other options, including reductions elsewhere in his department.
“We’re committed to having safe schools,” he said. “We’re prepared to move forward no matter what happens.”
WANT TO ATTEND? The budget hearing begins at 5 p.m. Monday at the South Walton Courthouse Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd. in Santa Rosa Beach.