MILTON — Monday afternoon, the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners held its first budget workshop of 2016.
Among his listed goals, County Administrator Tony Gomillion included balancing the budget at the current millage rate.
During the meeting, he presented several key numbers pertinent to the county’s proposed spending plan.
$49.8 million: This is the projected ad valorem revenue for fiscal year 2017, up $1.5 million from last fiscal year. However, Gomillion said there is still a $9 million deficit since 2007. Despite the gap, the number is up roughly $5.8 million since the low point in 2013.
52 percent: Gomillion said this number is the percentage of the county’s revenue garnered from ad valorem taxes. He said last year’s was 53 percent, so it’s a percentage point lower for a millage rate that hasn’t changed since 2007.
20,000: Santa Rosa County’s population has increased roughly 20,000 over the past 10 years according to the county. Gomillion said the population growth has outstripped the county’s revenue.
While the population continually increased, revenue leveled off roughly in 2013, with minor growth compared to population.
“I think … it’s important to note that there comes a point in time where you have to redefine what is your level of service, what is adequate. And assuming we stay at a static state essentially with a budget, you have to accept your levels of service may decline,” Gomillion said.
That could translate to longer waiting lines at county offices, and longer call wait times.
$3,940,570: The total fiscal budget for 2017, Gomillion said, would be $74,300,884 while expenditures total $78,241,466, which includes capital needs. This creates a nearly $4 million deficit, or delta.
Without capital expenditures, Gomillion said the deficit would be $1,165,447. He said the expenditure amount wouldn’t compare to last year since last year didn’t have a budgeted capital amount.
The capital expenses, he said, were figured into the reserve, not the budget. Gomillion said, as well, capital needs would be funded from the fund balance.
WHAT’S NEXT
The county will receive the certified property tax roll from the property appraiser on July 1.
July 15, Gomillion will submit a tentative fiscal year 2016-2017 budget to county commissioners. The next budget workshop will then be July 19. Trim notices will go out Aug. 22.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County budgets for a growing population, stale revenue