The Leon County Board of County Commissioners held a workshop on June 14, 2016 and County staff presented the fiscal year 2017 proposed budget.
The staff reported that “the preliminary FY 2017 budget totals $246,254,510 which reflects a 3.2 percent increase from FY 2016. As a point of comparison, the recently passed State of Florida budget increased 4.8 percent.”
The proposed budget includes an estimated $5.58 million in new revenues and expenses.
Also, the budget, for the second consecutive year, provides relief from the City’s 27% increase in fire service fees for those who live in the unincorporated area. In order to maintain the fee at lower levels, the County Commission reduced the fees for the unincorporated area by 15% for FY16 and FY17. The County Commission approved $1.2 million from the general revenue fund to be used for this reduction. The full rate will become effective October 1, 2017 (FY18) without further action.
NEW REVENUES
Based on the current millage rate of 8.3144 and the preliminary information provided by the Property Appraiser on June 1, 2016, the property tax will raise $3.125 million more than last year.
The Public Service Tax (PST) will raise an additional $2.25 million. This is in part due to the end of a 3 year repayment schedule to the City of Tallahassee of $2.1 million for over payment of the PST to the County from FY 2010 – FY2013.
Sales taxes are anticipated to generate additional revenue of approximately $823,650 and the gas tax revenue is expected to increase by $549,100.
On the negative side of the ledger, the Communications Tax will bring in approximately $316,000 less than last year.
NEW EXPENSES
The Sheriff’s Law Enforcement and Correction budget will receive the largest portion of the new spending with an increase of $2.33 million. The new expenses will pay for four new deputies and four non-sworn positions in the jail. This also includes increases in salary and benefits (including health insurance).
Staff is recommending increasing the recurring transfer to the County capital program in the amount of $1.0 million. During the recession, the County suspended the transfer of recurring dollars to the capital program. The goal is for the County to reach $4.0 to $5.0 million in recurring funds which will be used for capital expenses.
The next largest category is the $941,00 that will be allocated to Leon County employee salaries and benefits. This category includes raises and increases in healthcare costs.
TR’s next report will identify new priorities adopted by the County Commission and the projects to be funded by the County’s capital budget.
Leon County Proposed Budget Increases by $5.58 Million, Law Enforcement Gets $2.1 Million added by Staff on
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Guys like Preston act like they haven’t gotten a raise in quite some time. County employees deserve a raise. Hopefully, the BOCC will withstand any outcry and do the right thing.
Yet the inflation rate for the past year was less than 2 percent.
Add the County to the list of local taxing entities raising your taxes this year. More responsible than the City? Yes. Does it justify taking more of your money? No.
Once again the General Revenue Fund which comes from taxes paid by all Leon County Taxpayers is used to subsidize just the taxpayers of the unincorporated portion of Leon County. Some things never change!
2.33 million for 8 positions works out to over $291,000 each. I hope there’s more to it than that.
I had to re-read it thinking the same thing. It does say that that total includes raises and healthcare supplements for everyone there so the cost is not simply for 8 salaries.