budget meeting

[idlewind]

I thought the budget meetings were last week. Since the taxpayers association was there for them, can we get a report on what happened? Are taxes going up? Down? Stay the same? Can someone from the WCTA who attended let us know?

 

[WCTA]

I thought the budget meetings were last week. Since the taxpayers association was there for them, can we get a report on what happened? Are taxes going up? Down? Stay the same? Can someone from the WCTA who attended let us know?

Budget scrubs are spread out over three days. Were held Wednesday and Thursday of last week and again on Monday. It is still to early to say exactly what will happen because the largest departments scrubs are Monday. Please remember that these are the "internal scrubs" conducted by the OMB Department and things can change dramatically after the process but before the "Public Hearings".

The two major Depts that were held last week were Public Works and the Sheriff's Dept.

Are you taxes going up ? Are you referring to the "millage rate" or your taxes themselves ? If you are referring to your "total taxes" and you have a homestead on you home, then yes they will due to the recapture rule on homesteaded property. The school tax portion of your total bill will increase due to the "state required" portion of the total school tax.

We will issue a formal analysis after Monday.

Thanks for your interest.

Hope this helps !

 

[idlewind]

I was wondering about the millage rate. Did the Sheriff and Public Works cut their budgets? Which depts. went up? Which went down? What kind of pay increases is the county workers going to get this year? I will be looking forward to the analysis.
Thanks for taking the time to go to the hearings and examine what is going on.

 

[idlewind]

*****bump*****

I was hoping to hear a report of how things went by now. Who are the spenders, who are the cutters and did they cut enough to not raise taxes?

 

[TooFarTampa]

*****bump*****

I was hoping to hear a report of how things went by now. Who are the spenders, who are the cutters and did they cut enough to not raise taxes?

This seems like a multi-layered question, not a simple one.

If property assesments are down this year, millage rates can rise and the budget can still be the same.

If the millage rate goes up, some homeowners will see their taxes go up from last year and some won't. It depends on the individual assessments and homestead exemptions.

Even if the millage rate stays the same and assessments are down, some homesteaders will still see their taxes go up.

Seems like we should ask about the assessed values and go from there.

 

[idlewind]

This seems like a multi-layered question, not a simple one.

If property assesments are down this year, millage rates can rise and the budget can still be the same.

If the millage rate goes up, some homeowners will see their taxes go up from last year and some won't. It depends on the individual assessments and homestead exemptions.

Even if the millage rate stays the same and assessments are down, some homesteaders will still see their taxes go up.

Seems like we should ask about the assessed values and go from there.

I had already read somewhere that assessed values are down significantly. So that is why I "jumped ahead."

 

[WCTA]

I had already read somewhere that assessed values are down significantly. So that is why I "jumped ahead."

Sorry - been very busy with our new hotline.

Latest Values from Property Appraiser

LY - $16,501,125,081
TY - $13,600,736,524

Decrease In County Total Values = $2,900,388,557 = 18.6% loss

(Note - THE Property Appraisers Office states they will probably fall another .02 % - they are still making some adjustments)

The budget scrub process reduced the budget request by about 1.2 million. The short fall in revenues from ad valorem, sales and gasoline tax has grown to around 8.3 million. That leaves a shortfall of around 7.1 million.

Now comes the hard part that will be dealt with over the next few days as they step through other was to reduce the budget.

I am attaching a listing of their possible avenues. Some have already been dealt with through the scrubs (no more free coffee, 20% reduction in travel, etc.

If I were a betting individual which I am not - I would say we are looking at a .5 mill tax increase, but I could be wrong. They could make the hard decisions that concern head count, benefits and salary reductions.

ITEMS FOR BUDGET CONSIDERATION

Eliminate ARC rental payment for parking Sheriff’s cars
Eliminate County furnished cars for North to south carpooling
Eliminate county-furnished coffee, water, sodas, and crackers
20% across the board reduction in travel
Training travel only for certification needs
Eliminate travel entourages
50% reduction on uniform costs
Reduce the number of take home vehicles
Raise thermostats in summer and lower in winter
Cut back number of days of janitorial service per week
Reduce Library funding
No summer employment program
Roll forward un-filled 2008-2009 personnel vacancy money
Do not fund approx. 30 FTEs for 2009-2010
Do not fund fringe benefits for vacancies
Shift bike path maintenance from contract to prison crew
Lengthen intervals for mowing by Parks and rec
Reduce amounts available for employee tuition reimbursement
Reduce aid to Volunteer Fire Depts same % as Paramedic-Firefighter funding
Actual reduction in operating funds being sought for 2009-2010
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance reduced and handled by Environmental
Cut non-profit donations by 1/3 and no new funded ones
Bring forward balance in local Option gas Tax fund ($20,300)
Employee contributions to health insurance
Reduced interest expense on credit line and Road Paving loan
Roll forward unspent 2007-2008 Public Works operating funds
Roll forward unspent guardrail dollars
Unspent current year bridge building dollars to 2009-2010
Change % between overlays and dirt to pave
De-obligate Proportionate Fair Share money for CR 30-A
De-obligate bike path striping
De-obligate intersection lighting
Roll forward unspent 2008 Contingency funds
Additional revenue by outsourcing ambulance billing
Reduction in new equipment purchases by public works
Decrease in Workers Comp insurance costs
De-obligate Basin Bayou park
March storm FEMA dollars

 

[idlewind]

If all of these things are done, ( understanding some already have) how much more would approximately be saved? What are some other things that could be considered? I would hope reductions in staff or pay would be the last resort; the economy does not need to lose any more spending power, and I hate to see anyone else unemployed, but that is just my opinion.

Thanks for the information, very detailed and non-partisan.

 

[WCTA]

If all of these things are done, ( understanding some already have) how much more would approximately be saved? What are some other things that could be considered? I would hope reductions in staff or pay would be the last resort; the economy does not need to lose any more spending power, and I hate to see anyone else unemployed, but that is just my opinion.

Thanks for the information, very detailed and non-partisan.

It really depends on what the public is willing to accept. Is the bike path important to you? Do you believe we should supplement the cost of family medical cost ? Are you willing to de-allocate dollars already approved for parks, roads, bridge repair ? Are you willing to not have people clean up discarded items from the beach?

You could make up the short fall by implementing every item on that list, but it would be very painful and would mean salary cuts, layoffs and unpaid furlows. Would you be willing to accept the level of service?

The WCTA is working on its recommendations that it will offer in the Public Budget workshops. Not finished at this time. We are just bored individuals according to some.

 

[idlewind]

It really depends on what the public is willing to accept. Is the bike path important to you? Do you believe we should supplement the cost of family medical cost ? Are you willing to de-allocate dollars already approved for parks, roads, bridge repair ? Are you willing to not have people clean up discarded items from the beach?

You could make up the short fall by implementing every item on that list, but it would be very painful and would mean salary cuts, layoffs and unpaid furlows. Would you be willing to accept the level of service?

The WCTA is working on its recommendations that it will offer in the Public Budget workshops. Not finished at this time. We are just bored individuals according to some.

Are truly conservative notions such as less regulation and less intrusion into private citizen's lives going to be part of the equation? This would seem like the oportune time to effect real change in the direction of government.