THE Bus Survives Budget Ax

BROOKSVILLE - Riders of THE Bus are breathing easier today now that their mass transit system has been spared.
The news came out of a meeting Tuesday where department heads and Constitutional officers paraded their budgets before county commissioners.
Commissioners made it clear that this year any fat in those budgets would be cut out.
"Bare bones" is the order of the day, Commissioner David Russell said.
"I can tell you it's going to be tough," Russell said.
Two other big developments Tuesday: Commissioners kept their promise and adopted a proposed millage rate of 5.43, unchanged from the current rate.
The rate could change as the board gets deeper into budget sessions. The rate can go down but not up.
Also, commissioners agreed to shift money out of code enforcement and put it back into the Animal Services Department for the preservation of the spay and neutering services. They will also consider reopening Animal Services on Saturdays.
Those measures will come back before the board in September.
Commissioners said THE Bus will continue to roll, even with the county agreeing to cut $217,000 (or one-third) from THE Bus subsidy.
Thanks to a two-tiered fare increase, planning department staffers said they will be able to keep five-day-a-week bus service. It was feared the county would have to cut one day from the fixed route.
The fares will rise from $1 to $1.25. Nine months later, fares will rise to $1.50. In addition, monthly passes will rise $15 to $25.
Planning staffers cited stable ridership patterns and the results of a survey that showed use is on the rise.
But staffers also stressed that they would continue to closely monitor the system.
"Right now we are going to maintain the service," Planning Director Ron Pianta said. "That does not mean we will not review the service."
With a double whammy of state-mandated cuts and Amendment 1, which doubled homestead exemptions if the assessed value of a person's property was $75,000 or more, the county this year is struggling to find cuts wherever they can be found.
County Administrator David Hamilton and Budget Director Zoettlein have said they need to close a $6.3 million gap between planned general fund expenditures and revenues.
The proposed 2009 fiscal year budget is $384 million, a decrease of $37 million, or 8.87 percent, from the previous year. Tax revenue decreased in 2008 by $7 million, or 7.63 percent, thanks to the downturn in property values and new construction.
The general fund, the county's operating fund supported by property taxes, declined $6.4 million, or 5.15 percent - from $125 million to $119 million.
Zoettlein said the county has cut $17.5 million out of the budget since adopting a biennial budget two years ago.

Other highlights from Tuesday's budget discussion:

Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent gave a lengthy slide show presentation, trying to sell commissioners on his need for a $32.8 million budget, up slightly from last year.
Commissioners said they believe it's a budget they can live with.
"But I'm open to improvements," Russell said.
Nugent said his department has kept intact its excellent response time despite not adding anymore deputy positions for the past three years.
Nugent's department has 1.5 deputies per thousand residents, which is below state standards of about 1.7.
"We're working within the budget constraints of the county," said Nugent.
Nugent said he has been able to reduce overtime costs.

Parks Director Pat Fagan said he would sever its contractual agreement to maintain two ballfields at the YMCA, saving the county about $29,000 a year. He also said user fees for boat ramps at Hernando Beach, Bayport and Jenkins Creek will be $5 per use, netting the county $40,000 a year.

County Engineer Charles Mixson said he would set aside $390,000 of general fund money each year for the next five years for dust-control of limerock roads.

Commissioners set the first budget public hearing for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 11.

In other county commission meeting action Tuesday, the board:

Eliminated the title of emergency management director in favor of a new position - emergency management manager.
County Administrator David Hamilton believes the job title reclassification will save the county about $22,500 a year because it carries a lower pay grade.
Approved applying for a $200,000 state grant allowing for improvements at Kennedy Park in Brooksville.