Loxahatchee Groves’ Finance Advisory & Audit Committee (FAAC) believes that the town will still have law enforcement protection even without a contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO).
The FAAC reviewed the town’s contract with the county agency at its meeting on Monday, June 6, to advise the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on how to move forward with its ongoing contract dispute.
At the start of the meeting, the committee swore in three new members: Lisa Murray, Samuel Harrity and Jennifer Stephens. After being sworn in, committee members went on to appoint Tracy Raflowitz as chair and Stephens as vice chair.
The council asked the FAAC to assess the contract’s cost-effectiveness. At one of the council’s previous meetings, they agreed to send a notice of termination of its law enforcement contract for the upcoming fiscal year.
“There are no ongoing negotiations with respect to the resumption of the contract for this fiscal year or next fiscal year,” Town Attorney Jeff Kurtz said.
In December 2025, the council voted to stop paying its $680,000-a-year contract with the PBSO. The council believed that the county agency was charging the town too much money for enhanced law enforcement services.
Deputies responded by withdrawing some law enforcement services from the town, reverting it to only receiving services similar to those in unincorporated Palm Beach County, during the ongoing negotiation impasse. So far, local leaders have saved $56,668.92 each month since the start of the dispute, but it is unclear if the PBSO might file a lawsuit on the matter.
Committee members compared the town’s contract with the county agency with others it has with different municipalities, including Palm Beach Shores, South Palm Beach and Lake Park. While Loxahatchee Groves’ contract cost is on the lower end of many municipalities, the reasons why PBSO officials charge a specific amount is unclear.
“[The PBSO] do not approach the contracts with the municipalities with a formulaic approach,” Kurtz said.
This made it difficult for the committee to determine if the town was being overcharged. However, the county agency did provide documentation of average response times and crime rates since deputies withdrew certain services from the area. Committee members said those numbers changed very little from last year, and they still will be paying for law enforcement through county taxes.
“We’re not paying on the contract. We still get our emergencies taken care of, we still have crimes-in-progress, major accident [responses] and county law enforcement responsibilities,” Raflowitz said. “They are going to still come for all of that, so why are we actually paying twice?”
Murray pointed out that residents will still get essential law enforcement services even without the contract.
“[Residents] still will have safety; they still will have law enforcement,” Murray said. “I think that’s so important for us to convey to our residents because there was a scare for some of our residents, and I want our townspeople to feel safe.”
Former Councilman Todd McLendon, who was one of the biggest supporters of ending the PBSO contract while on the dais, said the last few months prove that the town can manage without it.
He believes there is no requirement for municipalities to have dedicated law enforcement similar to what they had with the PBSO.
“We’ve had six months now to see what it is going to be like,” McLendon said. “Right now, we’re probably $400,000 ahead in our wallets.”
PBSO officials have allegedly sent letters to state government offices about the situation. According to Kurtz, they claim that the town is violating its charter by not having dedicated law enforcement services. However, as of right now, the only way the town could lose its charter is through a special act by the state legislature, or a referendum voted by residents.
Kurtz warned that, even though that possibility is unlikely, the town may face other consequences.
“It has always been a concern of mine and a concern of the council when it comes to seeking funding for grants, whatever, we might be asking Tallahassee for,” Kurtz said. “The [PBSO], if they decide to oppose us on that, are not without friends up there.”
The council will consider the committee’s review and analysis for future actions amid the ongoing dispute with the PBSO. No agenda has been released specifically noting when the matter may be discussed again.
