Q: Can the budget be analyzed to see what other areas can be cut instead of public transportation?
A: The current year budget cuts were made countywide, not just in some departments. For FY 2009, the County is utilizing a modified zero-base budget approach where cuts will be prioritized based on the impacts they have on the different programs. Public transportation budget will be reviewed along with other budgets to determine where cuts will be made. The largest expenditures for public transportation are salaries and fuel. A new bus service, the LINK, will start in February. Next week three new Palm Tran routes will be in service. Palm Beach County is the only county in the state with a senior transportation service with no limit on income or disability. Sunday or evening bus service might be cut. Bus service is provided every hour to Belle Glade that only costs $2.50 for a round trip ticket. The County actually loses money on this type of service.
Q: What is the contingency fund? Are there any controls or restrictions on reserve fund spending?
A: There is $125 million of uncommitted reserves for emergencies. These reserves are a key contributing factor in Palm Beach County’s AAA bond rating. We are the only county in the state with this top rating, and one of only 30 counties in the country. The reserves are available to be used for unexpected things like quick relief for hurricanes. Of the $125 million, $20 million is a contingency fund. Last year $5 million out of the $20 million was used for special needs and emergencies such as replacement vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office and Supervisor of Elections Absentee Ballot System.
Q: Can the County have a pre-June budget workshop?
A: A request will be made to the Board of County Commissioners to have a workshop on the budget.
Q: Why is the Sheriff’s budget so large?
A: The Sheriff’s Office is the largest part of the budget, and salaries are the largest expenditure. Some increases in spending are required by the court. For example, if there is a need for more jail space, more jails will be built.
Q: Transportation and highway safety are the two most important issues for seniors. Why can’t cuts be made elsewhere?
A: Cuts were made to Head Start, agriculture and even Parks & Recreation, but there were many, many objections. For example, just one lifeguard was cut from a beach in Jupiter and hundreds of objections were made. All departments and program budgets will be considered when determining where to make cuts to balance the FY 2009 budget, including economic development. Cuts have to be made, and public input is needed to determine where to make them.
Q: Why can’t County employees or their benefits be cut?
A: There are many civil service and union employees who work for the County under terms outlined in legal contracts. These contracts are not easy to change. Three years ago the union contracts (including salary amounts) were fixed, including the Sheriff’s contracts. In addition, state civil service laws and rights for union workers need to be considered when developing the budget. However, beginning this year, County employees now have to pay a portion of their health insurance.
Q: Has the County tried the zero-base budget where everything has to be justified? Has the County considered using the risk-reward basis for determining costs and their benefits?
A: The zero-base budget process has not been used before, but a modified zero-base budgeting approach will be used this year to evaluate the benefits of programs and determine where cuts will be made. A cost benefit analysis has been made in some areas, and specific line items will be evaluated. There is a large unincorporated area in the county with low population density where people want city-level services. This is not always possible. For example, everyone expects the same response time when Fire-Rescue is called, but this cannot always be achieved.
Q: It seems like taxes are based on inflated numbers. How much more in revenue was collected since 2002?
A: The tax rate has actually come down since 2002. The current millage rate is 3.7811 compared to 4.2800 last year and 4.5500 in 2002. There is a property tax disparity between homestead and non-homestead property. Due to the decrease in millage rate, homestead property taxes will go down. Also, property tax bills will reflect decreased property values - the Property Appraiser estimates that appraisals will come down by 5%. However, there is time lag in the process; November tax bills are based on the property values as of January 1.
Q: What about using doc stamp monies that we didn’t get?
A: Doc stamp monies earmarked for the County are collected by the Clerk and paid to the County. The decreased activity in property transactions has affected the amount of doc stamp revenues. Proponents of the amendment claim that if the amendment passes, things will change and property transactions will increase. The public has to decide what it wants.
Q: From 2002 to 2007 how did the County manage to operate on $3 billion less? Why spend it all?
A: In the 1990s until 2001 the property increases were stable at about 5% a year. County spending was well within the budget. Then there was increased revenue, inflation and more construction. The budget increased every year. The property values increased, and the County invested in new projects such as Scripps, increased Palm Tran services and environmentally sensitive land. Projects that have already been started can’t be cut.
Q: What kinds of cuts will be made at parks or libraries?
A: There might be cuts in parks maintenance. Libraries will stay open, but some services might have to be cut.
Q: Can you explain the new bus service?
A: The new service is the LINK, and will it will begin Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. The LINK is a pilot program serving residential and gated communities where fixed-route service is not available, but it is not a door-to-door service. There will be seven routes, operating Monday through Thursday with one to two routes per day. The buses will go in areas that don’t have regular bus routes. You can call for a bus, and it will pick you up within an area 3/4 mile on each side of a route. There will be scheduled stops in addition to “flag down” locations along the route. The fare is fifty cents. No passes are accepted. Passengers must have the correct fare. Trips can be scheduled three days in advance between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week, by calling (561) 649-9838 or (877) 870-9849 (toll-free).
Government
