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Hernando Today

Slimmer Budget Up For Debate

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: September 10, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Decreased.
It's a word used often in the summary of the county's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009, a document chronicling the domino effect of reductions created mainly by less tax revenue and a sputtering economy.
County department heads and staffers have responded accordingly to make government more efficient and balance the $384.5 million budget, County Administrator David Hamilton said.
The process began long before he arrived last March, and it's a good thing it did, he said.
The county, halfway through its two-year budget process, faces a shortfall of $4.5 million – a figure that Hamilton warned could grow. The strategy is to address that deficit in two $2.25 million bites, attack it from many sides, and all the while keep last year's ad valorem rate of 6.32 mills.
The millage rate is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. So, a property worth $150,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption would see a tax bill of $632.
Residents will get a chance to offer their two cents during the county's two upcoming budget hearings slated for 5 p.m. tomorrow and Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Government Center, 20 N. Main St., Brooksville.
Many already have weighed in on what they considered priorities during a series of six public meetings held throughout the county earlier this year.
Public safety was tops on that list "without exception," Hamilton wrote to commissioners earlier this summer in a letter attached to the proposed budget. He said he feels confident about Sheriff Richard Nugent's $31.7 million budget. It's an increase of nearly $1 million from last year and should be enough to keep residents safe, Hamilton said.
"We applaud the sheriff's effort and believe he should have the resources to keep a high level of public safety in our county," he said.
And though the county is chipping in $200,000 less than the $600,000 it paid last year to keep THE Bus running, there won't be cuts to routes or hours of operation.
"We've made every effort to continue the same services we provided, albeit at a reduced threshold of service," Hamilton said.
Unallocated reserves are often called a rainy day fund, and county officials have decided that rainy day is here.
The unallocated general reserve fund would drop from $35.6 million to $22.2 million this year, a decrease of 37 percent from 2008.
Some of the money is being used to make up the budget deficit. But $8.5 million will be set aside for capital projects that include the widening of County Line Road; a site and design for a new judicial center; a paving program for limerock roads; and a degreasing facility for county vehicles.
Nearly every budget category is being trimmed. There will be less money for overtime, travel and training. The county's vehicle fleet would be trimmed by 7 percent.
As part of the budget, only county employees making less than $65,000 would get a 2 percent raises.
County residents are starting to see the effects and could be asked to chip in more for services they use.
Library hours of operation have been reduced starting this month. The four branches are now open a total of 41 fewer hours each week.
The commission at its land use hearing slated for 9 a.m. today will consider recommendations to increase existing fees at parks and athletic fields and the creation of a few new fees, including a $5 charge to use county boat ramps.

More to come
Even as the ink dries on this year's budget, the county is looking ahead to next year, when this year's precipitous drop in property values and could be an even shakier economy further catches up with county coffers.
"It portends dark clouds on the horizon," Hamilton said.
He has told commissioners that the number of departments and divisions in county government, currently at 25, could possibly be halved as redundant and overlapping positions are eliminated.
He has recommended "a complete overhaul" of the county's existing pay system to make it less confusing and make increases merit-based. Since the changes would be amortized over 12 months, the system would be more cost-effective, Hamilton said.
A new early leave policy for top managers and supervisors also will come up for discussion.
The county could do a better job of tracking its own energy use, Hamilton said. The new system would separate water, sewer, gas and electric into separate line items, allowing for better planning for future years and assessing the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
"The second and toughest of the two-year cycle begins immediately after the adoption of this budget," he said. "There will be no let up in the efforts."

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If you go
WHAT: Public hearings on county budget.
WHEN: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11; 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
WHERE: Both meetings will be held in the commission chambers of the Hernando County Government Center, 20 N. Main St., Brooksville.

Cause and effect
Here are some of the reasons why the county is working with less money for the 2009 proposed budget year and some of the actions recommended by county staff:
Tax revenue is down nearly $13.6 million from last year due to falling property values; the voter's passage of Amendment 1; and the commissioners' adoption of a state plan to implement an additional $50,000 property tax exemption for seniors over 65.
Total revenue has decreased by $16.5 million.
All told, the county faces a $4.5 million deficit halfway through its two-year budget process.
The 2009 proposed budget is $384.5 million, down nearly 9 percent from 2008.
The general fund is $119.1 million, a reduction of $6.5 million, or 5.2 percent, from 2008.
*The budget proposes 1,459 full-time employee positions, including the constitutional officers. That's 67 fewer positions than last year.
The constitutional officers, such as the sheriff, clerk of court and supervisor of elections, have decreased spending by $5.4 million, or 5.2 percent.
Overtime costs would be cut by more than $139,000.
The county's vehicle fleet would be trimmed by 7 percent.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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