By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

There were no surprises last week Wednesday when Osceola County commissioners at a public hearing approved the various final tax rates to support the county’s 2010-11 fiscal year budget.

Commissioners approved rates that were the same as they had tentatively set Sept. 8, and taxpayers will see an aggregate rate of 7.8684 on their next tax bill, which would be the equivalent of $786.84 per $100,000 of assessed value. The county, based on the rate, will levy approximately $146.2 million in property taxes, which will help support a $754 million budget.

Commissioners, though, were not unanimous in their support of the 6.7000 county millage, with Commissioners Fred Hawkins Jr. and John Quiñones voting against, namely because they wanted a lower rate. County staff had recommended a rate of 6.9000.

The aggregate rate includes: a millage of 1.0682 for emergency medical service; 0.2566 for the county library system; and 0.0500 for SAVE Osceola operations. The final vote on the budget was 3-2, with Hawkins and Quiñones opposed.

The overall county budget for the new fiscal year, according to county staff, will be about 6 percent lower than the prior year, or about $46.7 million less; overall property taxes generated will be about 11 percent less.

Donna Renberg, director of the county Office of Management and Budget, said the new budget supports a county staff of 1,556 full-time employees, which is down by 291 positions since the 2006-07 fiscal year. The current employee total reflects an increase of 120 positions in the corrections department, Renberg added.

The new budget also includes a two-week furlough for county administrative staff.

Other commission news

The commission on Sept. 22 also approved a five-year capital improvement plan and a new staff organizational chart.

The improvement plan, Renberg said, reflects “very little” spending in the new fiscal year, which starts Friday, with the majority of needs “pushed back to 2014-15,” with $374.9 million of unfunded projects.

Approximately $31.5 million is earmarked for capital spending in the 2010-11 fiscal year, followed by $44.3 million in 2011-12, $44.6 million in 2012-13, $258.5 million in 2013-14 and $57 million in 2014-15. According to county documents, approximately 56.4 percent of the improvements will be in transportation, 12.9 percent in transportation infrastructure maintenance, 11.4 percent in buildings, 10.4 percent in equipment, 7.3 percent for parks and 1.6 percent for stormwater.

Under the new organizational chart, County Manager Don Fisher will oversee all county employees (excluding Commission Auditor Kathy Wall and County Attorney Jo Thacker) but will have more hands-on direction of the office of comptroller (Fazie Kahn), clerk of the board (Paula Carpenter), economic development (Maria Toumazos), human resources (vacant), office of management and budget (Donna Renberg) and strategic initiatives (Jeff Jones).

Deputy County Manager Beth Knight will direct community outreach and public information, sports development (Don Miers), community development (David Tomek), corrections (Sherry Johnson), Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau (Tom Lang), Fire Rescue (Rich Collins), human services (Lania Crouch) and public works (vacant).