Sheriff outlines budget challenges

Staffing shortages and jail medical costs take center stage.


Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Home » Government
Posted July 15, 2026 | By Jennifer Hunt, [email protected]

As Marion County grapples with explosive population growth, Sheriff Billy Woods presented his proposed budget to the Board of County Commissioners during a July 15 workshop, highlighting a pressing need for more deputies and navigating a potential multimillion-dollar contract transition for jail medical services. With the county’s population now pushing 450,000, Woods reported that calls […]

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