By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

The Osceola County Commission Monday took under advisement a staff-recommended $733 million county budget for fiscal year 2011-12 that includes no administrative department layoffs or furlough days.

The balanced budget is $176 million less than in the 2010-11 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, according to County Manager Don Fisher. And, due to a 7.59 percent decline in countywide property values, the tentative aggregate tax rate of 8.0748 will produce $11.1 million less ad valorem tax revenue than it did last year. Property values have declined about 42 percent since they peaked four years ago.

At a 8.0748 millage rate, a home with a $100,000 taxable value would have a tax bill of $807.48. The budget covers all county operations, including constitutional offices.

“There are 42 positions being eliminated,” Fisher said, adding that the positions are either vacant or will be vacant due to voluntary retirements. “It will take us to the employee levels of (year) 2000.”

Fisher said the budget, as proposed, is “not sustainable” because it includes no funding for capital replacement of such things as vehicles and computers for the various administrative departments. He also said further discussion is needed on the proposed budgets for fire and library services, which face shortfalls.

The general fund, at the current millage rate of 6.700, would see a $9.5 million drop in revenue, according to the budget. Other funds would see drops as well: library, $366,000; EMS, $1.13 million; and environmental land, $71,331.

In the budget, Fisher wrote that the various county departments carefully analyzed their requests compared to actual spending, which led to some of the budget reductions.

“In addition, departments have been reviewing current operations to identify services that could be streamlined and/or provided differently to provide additional savings,” Fisher wrote. “These additional opportunities will be discussed in the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) workshops scheduled for the end of July.”

The overall downturn in the economy has been showing some signs of stabilizing in Osceola County, with some county revenue sources trending upward, according to the budget.

Among the improving sources are utility service taxes, state shared revenue, local government one-half cent sales tax, tourist development tax and the infrastructure sales surtax. Sources where declines have continued are the communication service tax and the local option fuel tax.

The proposed budget does not include any merit or cost of living increases for county administrative staff for the third consecutive year. It also does not include any employee furloughs, as was the case with the current fiscal year budget. The county’s payroll costs, however, have dropped given that employees must now pay 3 percent of their salary into the state retirement system; previously, the county picked up the entire cost.

The commission will meet July 25, 26 and 27 on various issues related to the budget and millage rates and then again in September to finalize the budget and tax levy.

“I am happy to see the manager has created a balanced budget with almost $9 million in tax cuts,” County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said. “I also am glad to see we have eliminated the furlough days not only for the benefit of our employees, but also for the level of service our citizens are used to having.”

Arrington said he is not in agreement with some of his fellow commissioners when it comes to funding for the Osceola Library System.

“I firmly believe the millage rate should be increased to the full rate previously approved by voters in order to keep the libraries operating at their current level and to move forward with the new Celebration Library, which will now be delayed,” Arrington said. “The county is operating at the year 2000 with it’s staffing levels and is serving around 100,000 more citizens. It does not seem logical that we can continue to cut taxes at the expense of infrastructure and overall maintenance of county services and assets.

“We need to make sure that we are practical and not political when it comes to addressing the needs of our community and what it truly costs.”

By Marvin G. CortnerEditorThe Osceola County Commission Monday took under advisement a staff-recommended $733 million county budget for fiscal year 2011-12 that includes no administrative department layoffs or furlough days.The balanced budget is $176 million less than in the 2010-11 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, according to County Manager Don Fisher. And, due to a 7.59 percent decline in countywide property values, the tentative aggregate tax rate of 8.0748 will produce $11.1 million less ad valorem tax revenue than it did last year. Property values have declined about 42 percent since they peaked four years ago.At a 8.0748 millage rate, a home with a $100,000 taxable value would have a tax bill of $807.48. The budget covers all county operations, including constitutional offices.“There are 42 positions being eliminated,” Fisher said, adding that the positions are either vacant or will be vacant due to voluntary retirements. “It will take us to the employee levels of (year) 2000.”Fisher said the budget, as proposed, is “not sustainable” because it includes no funding for capital replacement of such things as vehicles and computers for the various administrative departments. He also said further discussion is needed on the proposed budgets for fire and library services, which face shortfalls.The general fund, at the current millage rate of 6.700, would see a $9.5 million drop in revenue, according to the budget. Other funds would see drops as well: library, $366,000; EMS, $1.13 million; and environmental land, $71,331.In the budget, Fisher wrote that the various county departments carefully analyzed their requests compared to actual spending, which led to some of the budget reductions.“In addition, departments have been reviewing current operations to identify services that could be streamlined and/or provided differently to provide additional savings,” Fisher wrote. “These additional opportunities will be discussed in the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) workshops scheduled for the end of July.”The overall downturn in the economy has been showing some signs of stabilizing in Osceola County, with some county revenue sources trending upward, according to the budget.Among the improving sources are utility service taxes, state shared revenue, local government one-half cent sales tax, tourist development tax and the infrastructure sales surtax. Sources where declines have continued are the communication service tax and the local option fuel tax.The proposed budget does not include any merit or cost of living increases for county administrative staff for the third consecutive year. It also does not include any employee furloughs, as was the case with the current fiscal year budget. The county’s payroll costs, however, have dropped given that employees must now pay 3 percent of their salary into the state retirement system; previously, the county picked up the entire cost.The commission will meet July 25, 26 and 27 on various issues related to the budget and millage rates and then again in September to finalize the budget and tax levy.“I am happy to see the manager has created a balanced budget with almost $9 million in tax cuts,” County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said. “I also am glad to see we have eliminated the furlough days not only for the benefit of our employees, but also for the level of service our citizens are used to having.”Arrington said he is not in agreement with some of his fellow commissioners when it comes to funding for the Osceola Library System.“I firmly believe the millage rate should be increased to the full rate previously approved by voters in order to keep the libraries operating at their current level and to move forward with the new Celebration Library, which will now be delayed,” Arrington said. “The county is operating at the year 2000 with it’s staffing levels and is serving around 100,000 more citizens. It does not seem logical that we can continue to cut taxes at the expense of infrastructure and overall maintenance of county services and assets.“We need to make sure that we are practical and not political when it comes to addressing the needs of our community and what it truly costs.”