County shifts money to pay for mosquito control

County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to shift money out of the sensitive lands fund and put it in mosquito control, where they say it is needed to avoid future insect outbreaks.

At the same time, board members created a Hernando County Mosquito Control Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) through which taxpayers will pay for the services through an ad valorem tax not exceeding 0.0844 mills, which would generate an estimated $604,742.

Commissioners said that is more than enough to fund mosquito control annually and build up reserves in case of future emergencies.

The move would be a wash for taxpayers because the county would reduce the existing sensitive lands fund MSTU down from the current 0.0844 mills to zero.

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 in taxable value.

County Commissioner Wayne Dukes was the sole dissenter, saying he believes the county could have tried harder to fund mosquito control without raiding the sensitive lands fund voters had originally approved.

"Quite truthfully, that's using money for what it wasn't intended to use," Dukes said.

But residents will have the final word when they go to the polls next year and decide by referendum whether to continue the new funding mechanism or revert to the previous arrangement.

If the latter, commissioners said they would extend the sensitive lands fund until 2021 — two years after it was slated to sunset — to compensate for the money it will take out the next two years to fund mosquito control.

County Commissioner Dave Russell said the sensitive lands fund has built up enough money through the years to maintain the existing lands. There is currently $7.1 million in the fund, according to manager of Budget Services George Zoettlein.

The county's mosquito control budget for 2011 is funded through two sources: $535,743 from the general fund and $57,017 from the state.

Pasco and Citrus counties have elected mosquito control boards and residents pay annual assessments for the service.

In Hernando County, residents pay for it through their ad valorem taxes into the county's general fund, where the money is transferred to the mosquito control division.

Also Tuesday, seven county employees were officially laid off and more could get pink slips as commissioners inch closer to finalizing a balanced budget.

This latest round of layoffs should save the county some $317,000 in salaries and benefits, according to Director of Administrative Services Cheryl Marsden.

Officially laid off Tuesday were the county's veteran services officer, who makes $45,070 in salary and benefits.

Four positions were cut from the Transportation Services Department (formerly called the Department of Public Works). They include a facilities maintenance painter, $35,256, or $51,248 in benefits; a horticulture technician, $24,648 ($36,952); a traffic technician I, $31,117 ($46,470); traffic technician II, $41,725 ($56,960).

Others on the layoff list (with benefits) include: County Extension Office administrative secretary, $28,080 ($39,840) and Land Services environmental planner II, $44,512 ($58,449).

The board plans to meet in August to discuss trimming more employees. Commissioners asked directors to scrutinize their departments and eliminate positions that would not severely impact customer services.

"We're looking for reasonable solutions to the revenue losses and everything's on the table right now," Russell said.

Commissioners on Tuesday postponed taking action on setting tentative millage rates until next Tuesday's meeting.

The board also took off the table any discussion of taking at least $1.3 million from its budget stabilization reserve fund to help balance its budget.

Russell, who originally pushed for raiding the fund, made the motion to table any action.

"The situation is still fluid," he said. "(We're) still making some adjustments in our spending so we don't have the whole picture yet."

Russell had originally proposed a one-time hit to the stabilization fund, which is earmarked for budget anomalies and available to the county to use in case of emergencies.

Zoettlein had said the only caveat to using that money is that the county pay it back the following year.

The budget stabilization fund (also called a rainy day fund) has $2.4 million currently, according to Zoettlein.

Also Tuesday:

• Seaside Sanitation will be handling waste collection for the entire county.

Board members awarded the contract to Seaside, which submitted the lowest bid.

Formerly, the county was broken up into five zones with three different waste haulers. Seaside was responsible for the sector on the county's northwest area. The zones will remain but will be serviced by the one provider.

The seven-year contract includes a three-year renewable clause. There will be no changes to the current twice-a-week garbage collection pickups. Seaside will also pick up recyclables once per week.

Except for Brookridge and High Point, which will see a $1 monthly increase, every other zone will see a decrease.

The city of Brooksville has its own trash service and will not be affected by the arrangement.

To see the zones and new fee schedule, visit http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1240&MediaPosition=10286.000&ID=5431&CssClass=

• County commissioners approved the erection of a 199-foot cell phone tower at Calienta Street and Shoal Line Boulevard that should boost reception for Hernando Beach residents.

The vote was 3-2.

County Commissioner John Druzbick said he couldn't vote for the tower because he was concerned that it would be unsightly and would pose a danger should it fall.

Commissioner Jim Adkins said he also had problems with the safety of the tower and believed there were better locations.

• The board approved hiring William Baxter as the county's new building official. Baxter, who has served in that same capacity in Wakulla County since 2010, will make $75,000.