Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman

When I think about the role of government, I am reminded of a principle that President Reagan often championed: trust but verify. We trust our institutions to work for the people, but we must also ensure that they operate transparently and fairly. It is with this in mind that I propose a new approach to funding law enforcement in our county: creating a dedicated Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) for the Sheriff’s Office.

This isn’t just about dollars and cents–it’s about trust, fairness, and giving voters the transparency they deserve.

Why We Need a Law Enforcement MSTU

Our Sheriff’s Office provides an essential service: protecting our families and keeping our neighborhoods safe. But over the years, funding for the Sheriff’s Office has grown so rapidly that it often consumes nearly all the new revenue generated by our county’s growing tax base. This forces us as commissioners to hold other departments flat or even make cuts, affecting everything from emergency services to parks and funding road projects through our Growth Increment Fund (GIF).

This isn’t about whether the Sheriff’s Office deserves adequate funding–it absolutely does. It’s about creating a fair and transparent way to manage those funds so that every department in our county has a chance to thrive, not just survive.

Transparency for Taxpayers

One of the most common questions I hear as a commissioner is: “How can you approve the Sheriff spending so much to put his name on all of those cars?” The truth is, we as commissioners don’t get to approve or even see expenses at that level of detail. Once the Sheriff’s budget is approved, how those funds are spent is entirely at the discretion of the Sheriff.

Creating a dedicated MSTU for law enforcement does not mean an increase in taxes. It simply creates a new line item on your bill, so you have a clear picture of how much of your property taxes go to the Sheriff’s Office. And for the first time, voters could ask the Sheriff directly about specific expenses, from patrol car branding to equipment purchases, holding the office accountable in a meaningful way.

Fairness Across the Board

An MSTU wouldn’t just benefit taxpayers; it would also allow the Sheriff’s Office to plan its budget more independently, without competing with other vital county services. Meanwhile, other departments would no longer be forced to make sacrifices every time law enforcement costs rise. This approach levels the playing field and ensures fairness in how we allocate our resources.

A Vision Rooted in Accountability and Trust

Ronald Reagan also reminded us that government’s first duty is to protect the people, not to run their lives. This proposal does exactly that–it protects taxpayers by giving them a direct line of sight into how their money is spent. It protects fairness by balancing the needs of all county services. And it protects our community by ensuring that law enforcement has the dedicated funding it needs to keep us safe.

This is not about politics; it’s about good governance. It’s about creating a system where everyone–taxpayers, commissioners, and the Sheriff’s Office–can work together with clarity and accountability.

Let’s have the courage to make this change for the betterment of our county. Together, we can build a future that is transparent, fair, and rooted in the principles of accountability and trust.

— Commissioner Brian Hamman represents District 4 on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners