Courthouse Security Budget Reflects New Judicial Staffing Needs and Cost-Effective Contracted Security

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office today highlighted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 proposed budget for Courthouse Security, showing that nearly the entire budget is dedicated to the personnel and contracted security resources required to safely operate the courthouse.

Under Florida law, the Sheriff is responsible for implementing courthouse security and providing the associated law enforcement services. These responsibilities include courtroom bailiff duties, prisoner security, public-entry screening, and other security functions necessary for the safe operation of the courthouse. The County is responsible for funding reasonable courthouse security costs.

By the Numbers

1. Total proposed Courthouse Security budget, FY2027: $2,652,160
2. FY2026 approved budget: $2,356,733
3. Total increase: $295,427, or approximately 12.5%
4. HCSO personnel services: $2,241,963
5. Allied Security contract: $354,484
6. Other operating expenses: $55,713
7. HCSO personnel and contracted security together account for approximately 97.9% of the total Courthouse Security budget

What Is Driving the Increase

The largest operational change for FY2027 is the addition of a new full-time bailiff required to support a newly installed judge.

Personnel services increase by $278,309 over FY2026, accounting for approximately 94% of the overall budget increase. Sworn and civilian wages increase by $150,957, retirement costs increase by $79,937, and employee insurance increases by $46,081.

The budget also includes a contractual increase in the Allied Security agreement. Contracted services increase from $340,166 in FY2026 to $354,484 in FY2027, an increase of $14,318.

Together, the new bailiff position, associated personnel costs, and the Allied Security contractual increase account for the primary changes in the FY2027 Courthouse Security budget.

Contracted Security: Controlling the Cost of Courthouse Operations

Allied Security personnel are used for functions such as the courthouse control room and public-entry screening, including operation of the metal detectors.

These are necessary security posts. Without contracted security personnel, those positions would still need to be staffed, but would require the use of sworn deputies at a substantially higher cost.

Using Allied Security for appropriate fixed-post functions allows sworn deputies to remain available for duties that require law enforcement authority while helping control the overall cost of courthouse security.

For FY2027, the Allied Security contract totals $354,484, representing approximately 13.4% of the total Courthouse Security budget.

Nearly the Entire Budget Supports Security Personnel

Of the $2,652,160 proposed Courthouse Security budget, $2,241,963 is dedicated to HCSO personnel services and another $354,484 supports contracted Allied Security personnel.

Combined, those costs total $2,596,447, or approximately 97.9% of the entire Courthouse Security budget.

That leaves only $55,713, approximately 2.1% of the budget, for all other operating expenses, including insurance, supplies, maintenance agreements, travel, repairs, and training.

The numbers show that the Courthouse Security budget is overwhelmingly a staffing budget, focused on the deputies, bailiffs, and contracted security personnel required to keep the courthouse operating safely.

Looking Ahead

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office will continue working with the judiciary and Hernando County government to ensure courthouse security requirements are met responsibly while controlling costs wherever possible.

As the court system grows and judicial staffing changes, the Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide the personnel and security resources necessary to protect judges, court employees, defendants, jurors, attorneys, and members of the public while using taxpayer dollars responsibly.