Q: Has outsourcing been considered to save on the costs of salaries and benefits for full-time employees?
A: The County hires outside consultants for most of its engineering services and private contractors for landscaping and custodial services and technical building repairs. Airport maintenance and Palm Tran CONNECTION are also privately contracted. Full privatization of all County services is not feasible, but where possible, we try to do that.
Q: With the value of homes decreasing, will our property taxes decrease accordingly?
A: They could, but it will depend on the millage rate, the rate at which your property taxes are calculated. If the assessed value of your property goes down and the millage rate remains unchanged (currently 3.78 mills), you would pay less in County taxes. However, County taxes make up only a portion of your tax bill. There are several other entities, such as the School District, municipalities and special taxing districts, and each sets its own tax rate.
Government
