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Brien Weidemiller for Marion County Commissioner • Issue Platform

Fixing Funding Shortages Without Raising Resident Taxes

Marion County’s Sheriff’s Office faces critical staffing shortages, our schools are making difficult $64 million cuts, and public safety services are stretched by rapid growth. Brien Weidemiller will prioritize funding for law enforcement, fire rescue, and education by holding developers accountable — not by increasing taxes on working families.

$64M Budget shortfall Marion County Public Schools had to cut for FY 2025-26 due to lost federal aid and enrollment shifts
108 Deputy shortfall identified in Marion County Sheriff’s Office staffing study — only 12 of 28 requested added due to budget constraints
$218M+ Proposed Sheriff’s Office budget for 2025-26 — up 17%, yet still forced to scale back critical patrol positions
No Tax Hikes Brien’s pledge: Fund essential services by making growth pay its fair share

Growth Has Outpaced Funding for Public Safety & Education

Marion County’s rapid population increase has created serious funding pressures on our most vital services. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office identified a need for 108 additional patrol deputies to meet national standards, yet budget constraints forced them to cut their request in half for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Their proposed budget exceeded $218 million — a 17% increase — but still falls short of what is needed for adequate coverage.

Meanwhile, Marion County Public Schools faced a $64.3 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year, driven by the end of federal COVID relief funds, reduced state support, and students shifting to private or charter options. This has forced difficult cuts at a time when schools are already managing growth-related challenges like overcrowding.

Fire Rescue has maintained positive momentum with new rescue units and station improvements, but overall public safety and education services continue to feel the strain of growth that has not been matched with responsible, targeted funding.

"We have been revamped the fire department over the last ten years keeping the momentum going with expandation to all critical areas will happen."

— Brien Weidemiller, Candidate for Marion County Commissioner

Brien’s Approach: Prioritize Safety & Schools — Developers Pay Their Share

Brien Weidemiller will never support tax increases on Marion County residents. Instead, he will unite developers, businesses, and county government to ensure those who profit from growth help fund the increased demand they create on law enforcement, fire services, and infrastructure that supports schools.

  • Stronger Sheriff’s Office Funding Provide the Sheriff’s Office with the resources needed for adequate staffing and modern equipment through responsible impact fees and partnerships — not resident tax hikes.
  • Continue Fire Rescue Momentum Build on the last decade of improvements by expanding coverage in growing and rural areas while maintaining fiscal discipline.
  • Support for Schools & Workforce Advocate for policies that ease pressure on the School Board by directing more growth-related revenue toward education needs without burdening existing homeowners.

Smart Budgeting and Shared Responsibility

Responsible governance means living within our means while demanding results. Brien will push for better use of existing impact fees, developer contributions for infrastructure and public safety impacts, and tighter oversight of county spending. He believes government must budget more efficiently so essential services like law enforcement and education receive priority funding.

I will strengthen partnership with the Sheriff’s office... I will fund the sheriff’s office more than they have been in the past. Policing our community is critical to safety... I will never vote on increased taxes. I will unite business especially development companies to fund the roads and infrastructure they are stressing.

— Brien Weidemiller, Candidate for Marion County Commissioner

What Brien Will Do as Your Commissioner

Brien’s specific commitments on addressing funding shortages:

1. Increase Sheriff’s Office Resources Responsibly

Work to close the deputy staffing gap and provide modern tools without raising resident taxes — using developer-funded impact fees and public-private partnerships.

2. Sustain & Expand Fire Rescue Services

Continue the successful expansion of fire and EMS coverage, including micro-stations in rural areas, while keeping costs controlled.

3. Advocate for School Funding Stability

Support the School Board by directing growth revenue toward education needs and reducing the financial pressure caused by unchecked development.

4. Enforce Developer Accountability

Ensure companies building thousands of new homes contribute fairly to the public safety and education demands their projects create.

5. Transparent, Efficient Budgeting

Demand better follow-through on budgets, regular public reporting on fund usage, and no waste — so every tax dollar works harder for residents.

Essential Services Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought

Our Sheriff, firefighters, and schools deserve reliable funding. Brien Weidemiller will deliver it by making growth pay its fair share — protecting taxpayers while strengthening public safety and education.

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