County Budget Could Rise $12.3 Million

Budget Director George Zoettlein will ask county commissioners Tuesday to increase the 2009 budget by $12.3 million to allow for incomplete projects from last year to be carried over to the new fiscal year.

If approved, the 2009 budget would be adjusted from $465.2 million to $477.5 million.

Each year, certain purchase orders remain outstanding because projects have not been completed or departments have not received the final billing.

The money used to cover those purchases is set aside in the old year's budget and are brought forward into the new one to cover the encumbered purchase orders.

"It's a standard thing that we do every year," Zoettlein said.

This year, $7.5 million of the $12.3 million is for utility department projects carried forward, Zoettlein said. Also accounting for the increase in the budget: $1.8 million for airport projects; $600,000 for road impact fee projects and $150,000 for the dredge project.

The adoption of the budget resolution is part of Tuesday's county commission meeting which begins at 9 a.m. at the Government Center in downtown Brooksville.

Also on the agenda:

•Bright House Networks sent commissioners a memo advising them of additions to its lineup.

Effective Jan. 16, Bright House Networks will add six new high-definition channels to its lineup: USA HD, Sci-Fi HD, Bravo HD, Travel Channel HD; MLB Network HD; Cinemax HD.

Effective Jan. 18, bright House will add three new digital channels: MTV Tr3, MUN2 and Chiller.

•Hernando County firefighters and the county have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.

Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden will discuss contract terms during an agenda item.

Among the highlights: a new step plan that either decreases or eliminates general wage increases, as opposed to across-the-board 2 percent increases received by other board of county commissioner employees.