Cutting $1.3M from state attorney's budget would 'threaten public safety,' Ayala says

Fewer than .01% of cases handled by SAO are death penalty cases

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala responded Wednesday to Florida House Republicans' plans to cut back funding to her office.

House Republicans on Monday released spending recommendations that proposed slashing $1.3 million and 21 jobs from the budget of Ayala's office.

Ayala has come under fire after she said she would not seek the death penalty in the case of Markeith Loyd, who is charged with murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend and an Orlando police lieutenant.

Gov. Rick Scott removed Ayala from the Loyd case and reassigned it to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King.

Fewer than .01 percent of cases handled by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court State Attorney’s Office are death penalty cases, Ayala said in a statement.

More than 99 percent of cases in Ayala's office are non-capital homicides, sexual battery, sex crimes against children, domestic violence and other cases that would not result in capital punishment.

"The impact of cutting $1.3 million and eliminating 21 positions would severely impact this agency’s ability to effectively prosecute crimes, threaten public safety and ultimately have an economic impact on the Central Florida community," Ayala said.

The state attorney said millions of tourists and resident of Central Florida would be impacted by the budget cut.

"They should not be impacted by political posturing," she said.

The House budget proposal would shift money from Ayala and save it for prosecutors who are reassigned to death penalty cases.​

Ayala filed a motion last week to stay the Loyd proceedings until it could be determined whether Scott's decision to remove her was constitutional. A judge on Tuesday upheld the governor's executive order and said King will try the Loyd case.

Despite the judge's decision, Ayala said her office will continue to "move forward to expose the governor's actions as unlawful and unconstitutional in a way that does not compromise the successful prosecution of Markeith Loyd."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.