Proposed Budget: More Services, Lower Tax Rate

By Commissioner Jeff Koons

There are many things to like in the $4.3-billion County budget being proposed for FY-2007. It will mean more sheriff deputies and firefighters helping to keep us safe, a major expansion of the jail, a new animal shelter in The Glades, and completion ahead of schedule of some long-awaited capital improvements.

At the same time, the property tax rate is expected to go down. That’s because strong property values enabled the County to collect $107 million more in property taxes, even at a lower proposed millage rate of 4.35 mills (currently 4.45 mills). Although property values countywide jumped by about 20 percent this past year, state law caps the valuation increase for homes with homestead exemptions at 3 percent. So if the proposed 4.35 millage rate is adopted, the owner of a home valued at $325,000 with a $25,000 homestead exemption will pay only about $12 more in taxes next year.

The FY-2007 budget, as proposed, will allow us to hire 268 new County employees including 120 for Fire-Rescue, 10 for Public Safety, 21 at Parks and Recreation, and 22 for the County Library System. In addition, the Sheriff has added 75 positions.

There is $2.5 million set aside for construction of the Lake Region Water Treatment Plant, $1.3 million for road resurfacing, and $1 million for a new manatee protection program. I’m pleased to see $3 million in MSTU funding for neighborhood street improvements and $12.5 million to retrofit some County-owned buildings to make them more hurricane resistant.

We are also carrying over $14 million in reserves earmarked for affordable housing. This will enable us to leverage matching state funds to provide some much-needed workforce housing units.

Overall, I see this as a very responsible spending package, but there is more fine tuning to do. Two public hearings are scheduled for September 7 and 21 at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, and as always, we welcome your comments.