SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S MAJOR KURT HOFFMAN WILL NOT TAKE THE TEMPORARY POSITION AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AFTER IT WAS LEARNED THAT HE WOULD LOSE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF HIS RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND HAVE TO BE RECLASSIFIED. HOFFMAN WAS APPROVED BY THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON ETHICS, BUT WITH THE RETIREMENT ISSUE HE INFORMED COMMISSIONERS OF HIS DECISION YESTERDAY. HOFFMAN RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO HELP OUT IF CALLED UPON BUT HE DOES NOT WANT TO FURTHER DELAY THE PROCESS. HE ALSO SAID IN LIGHT OF THE URGENCY WITH WHICH SARASOTA COUNTY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THEIR SITUATION, IT WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ALLOW MY ISSUES WITH THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO HAMPER THOSE EFFORTS. SHERIFF TOM KNIGHT SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THE CURRENT PROCUREMENT PROBLEMS AND HIS AGENCY IS READY TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
