By: Staff Writer
Featured Story – High Country Advocate
“This is not my budget. It’s yours.”
With those words, Summit County Sheriff Jamie FitzSimons pushed back against what he describes as politically motivated retaliation from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).
In a direct address to the public, Sheriff FitzSimons said his office is facing budget cuts not because of financial necessity, but because he has held county leadership accountable — even through litigation.
“The Board of County Commissioners is against me because I consistently hold them accountable,” FitzSimons said. “They continually attempt to exert control over the sheriff’s office without legal authority, qualifications, or expertise.”
According to the sheriff, the county’s board is using budget cuts as leverage to punish his office and force compliance. He likened their actions to a “playbook straight out of Washington, D.C.” — threatening to withhold funds from elected offices to ensure loyalty.
“This behavior has no place in our local government,” FitzSimons said. “And it’s even more unacceptable in the realm of public safety.”
The sheriff warned that if the cuts move forward, the community will bear the cost, not county officials. “You do not have to look far to see the effects of defunding the police,” he said. “The results, time and again, are tragic.”
FitzSimons pointed out that Summit County holds nearly $40 million in reserves and funds around 30 discretionary departments each year. “Public safety,” he stressed, “is not discretionary.”
The sheriff framed his remarks as a defense of public trust rather than a personal or departmental battle.
“I’m fighting to ensure that when the call comes, we are here — trained, equipped, and ready.”
He closed with a message to Summit County residents:
“This is about your budget, your safety, and your community. We are the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, and we are always here for you.”
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