(Brooksville, FL) In preparation for the September 6, 2016 tentative budget hearing, the Hernando County Board of County Commission (BOCC) departments have reduced their proposed FY2017 budgets to balance the General Fund. The final budget will be approved by the BOCC at the September 20 final budget hearing. Both hearings will be held at 5:01 p.m. at the Government Center located at 20 N. Main Street in Brooksville.
Constitutional budgets were due June 1 to the Office of Management and Budget, the BOCC department responsible for balancing the county budget. After staff review, it was reported that the General Fund had a deficit of approximately $10.4 million. To meet the July 15 proposed budget deadline set by the state, a millage increase of 1.2945 was used to eliminate this deficit and achieve a balanced budget.
To avoid this increase, BOCC departments immediately began making dramatic budget reductions in order to maintain the current 6.9912 millage. Actions taken included:
* Eliminating all capital expenditures with the exception of improvements to Hunters Lake = $3 million
* Reducing operating expenses = $3.3 million
* Adjusting reserves = $1.1 million
* Adjusting revenue sources = $1 million.
“With the cuts to capital expenses we will be unable to replace worn out roofs and air conditioning units at multiple government buildings,” County Administrator Leonard Sossamon said. “Reductions to the operating expenses will impact our Unsafe Building Program, prevent us from making much needed technological upgrades and delay replacement of old playground equipment at parks.”
In addition, no new or re-class positions are budgeted. These measures saved the General Fund $8.4 million.
The Sheriff’s Office request for a $1.7 million increase plus $300,000 to cover the additional reserves needed remains in the budget. This will require a millage increase from 6.9912 to 7.2731 to balance the budget. The BOCC may approve this millage or request a reduction from the Sheriff.
If approved, the millage increase of .2819 would raise the annual property tax of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 by $28.19.
The Office of Management and Budget can reduce BOCC department budgets, but cannot reduce constitutional budgets. The General Fund includes the Board of County Commissioners and its 39 departments, Clerk of Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector.