Leon County Balances Funding Community Priorities Without Increasing Millage Rate
In its continued effort to deliberately focus on the most fiscally responsible budget possible, the Leon County Board of County Commissioners, in a 7-0 vote today, balanced the County’s tentative budget without raising the millage rate. The proposed Fiscal Year 2017 budget of $246 million is a 3.2 percent increase from last year’s budget. By comparison, the recently passed State of Florida budget increased by 4.8 percent. Since last year, preliminary taxable property values have grown 2.8 percent.
The Board accomplished this year’s balanced budget while leaving the millage rate at the current 8.3144 mills. The County reduced its recurring use of reserves, increased funding for infrastructure projects, and maintained quality service levels.
After very productive discussion and debate, the Board approved a tentative budget for the 2016/2017 fiscal year.
"As Chairman, I'm proud of the Board's hard work today at the budget workshop," said Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor. "While property values continue to rise in a slowly recovering economy, we remain committed to serving our citizens well while avoiding new expenses. This balanced budget demonstrates that commitment."
The preliminary budget was developed in a slowly improving economy, where growth in property tax revenues and state sales tax revenues are beginning to cover the inflationary costs of government expenses without having to reduce program services. Some actions taken to balance the budget include:
• Providing $2.2 million to continue implementing the Board’s sidewalk priorities;
• Increasing capital transfer amount by $1 million in anticipation of future needs;
• Decreasing general fund balance use by $1 million;
• Realigning resources to reduce personnel by a net of 13 positions;
• Realizing nearly $1 million of recurring savings through employee innovations and cost savings measures;
• Avoiding an estimated $4.0 to $6.0 million cost by addressing County Financial System needs within the existing technical system; and
• Allocating $1.2 million to the Community Human Service Partnership (CHSP), an increase of $200,000.
"During the slow economic recovery, this year's conservative budget will meet the highest priorities and obligations of the County," said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. "Through the County Commission's responsible fiscal stewardship, we'll be able to provide the exemplary services our community deserves while also ensuring the County’s long-term fiscal viability."
In spite of increased costs, unfunded mandates from the State, and financial constraints born out of tax-reform legislation, the Board of County Commissioners has made a concerted effort over the past nine years to minimize the impact on service delivery to the citizens of Leon County, implementing expenditure reductions and reducing and restructuring services.
The development of the current year budget is not an action that is isolated from previous Board budgets, but a continuation of an ongoing effort to maintain quality services and focus on capital infrastructure needs. The proposed budget is essentially a maintenance budget. The highest priorities are placed on continuing a quality level of service of current County programs. The majority of the funds are allocated toward the maintenance of the County’s infrastructure, such as roads, facilities, stormwater improvements and parks.
When compared to other like-sized counties in Florida, Leon County continues to maintain the lowest net budget, the lowest net budget per resident, and the second lowest number of employees per capita.
Based on the results of today’s workshop, the Board will establish the tentative countywide millage and Emergency Medical Services Municipal Services Taxing Unit rates at their July 12, 2016 meeting.
Citizens will have the opportunity to provide input on the budget before it is finalized in September. The first public hearing will be on Tuesday, September 13, at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers on the fifth floor of the Leon County Courthouse, located at 301 S. Monroe St.
The second public hearing will be at the same location on Tuesday, September 20, at 6 p.m., at which time the Board is scheduled to adopt the final budget and millage rates.
To inform the community of the upcoming budget hearings, Leon County will continue to implement public information and community outreach via media partner interaction, utilization of the County’s website, government access television channel (Comcast Channel 16) and social media outlets.
For detailed information on Tuesday’s budget workshop, please visit the Leon County website at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/OMB/, call the Leon County Office of Financial Stewardship / Office of Management & Budget at (850) 606-5100 or contact Leon County Community and Media Relations at (850) 606-5300 / cmr@LeonCountyFL.gov .
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