In Miami, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the Republican candidate for Miami-Dade County sheriff, expressed gratitude for the endorsement of her campaign by the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). However, Cordero-Stutz acknowledged that if elected, the position she is vying for may result in reduced funds for the Sheriff’s Office.
Cordero-Stutz, a seasoned police officer with 28 years of experience, expressed her concern over the significant reduction in the county budget. “Going from a 30% budget cut to 19% is an extremely drastic change,” she emphasized. It is worth mentioning that she recently secured victory in the Republican primaries and received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
“In my perspective, that essentially means ‘defunding the police’ in simpler terms.”
According to CBS News Miami, a recent analysis of the Miami-Dade County budget revealed that the Public safety sector accounted for 30% of the total budget in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. However, in the following fiscal year of 2024-2025, this figure decreased to 19%.
We approached James Reyes, the Democratic candidate who received the endorsement of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and inquired about the allegations.
Reyes confidently stated that there are no reductions in public safety within Miami-Dade County.
According to Daniella Levine Cava’s office, the sheriff’s office will be receiving additional funding, which has been allocated under a new category in the budget known as Constitutional Office.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reached out to CBS News Miami and provided a statement, expressing the following:
The proposed budget for this year does not involve any cuts or reductions in the total public safety budget. It is important to note that the introduction of new constitutional offices, such as the Sheriff’s Office, marks a significant transformation in the county government. Funding for law enforcement will now be allocated from the Miami-Dade County Police Department budget to the budget of the newly established sheriff’s office. Rest assured, public safety remains a paramount concern for both myself and my administration. We have diligently worked to develop a budget that sustains the current level of public safety services in our community without any reductions. Our aim is to ensure a seamless continuity of these essential services for all residents.
Cordero-Stutz acknowledges her endorsement but believes her track record as a police officer speaks for itself.
According to Cordero-Stutz, when someone endorses you, it may seem like a simple act of acknowledging who you are as a police officer. However, she emphasizes that there is more to it than meets the eye.
Reyes retorted, emphasizing that the individual in question possesses no understanding of how a sheriff’s office operates, having solely been associated with a police department. He emphasized that he is the sole candidate with executive leadership expertise within the sheriff’s office.
On November 5th, the voters of Miami-Dade will make a historic decision by electing their first county sheriff in nearly six decades.