9/7/1983 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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S E P 7 1933 Don Brickner, County resident, wished to know how many taxpayers have been added to the tax rolls since the start of the year and how much they will add to the tax duplicate. Mr. Barton explained that nothing is added after January 1, 1983. Any building that was completed after that date will not go on until next year's tax roll. The new construction we are talking about would be a house that was completed and occupied as of January 1, 1982, through and including December 31, 1982. Total new construction last year was $144,779,010. A gentleman from the audience believed the figure actually was $162,670,000, but he did not want to argue about $20,000,000. Mr. Brickner then wished to know if the COmmission is limited by Statute as to the percentage they can raise the budget, and he was assured that they definitely are. Mr. Barton explained in detail the requirements of the State statutes in regard to rollback, Sales Tax monies, cap, etc., and noted that this year an 8% increase over the prior year was allowed and up to a maximum of 15% in total aggregate dollars, i.e., all the taxing funds added together. Edward Wooten wishedto know why $40,000 was included in the General Fund for Ambulance and Rescue Service this year when it was carried under the MSTU last year. Mr. Barton explained that a year ago the Ambulance Squad was funded by the City of Vero Beach and several other municipalities contributed and the Board of County Commission funding was paid out of the unincorporated area. This year all the municipalities refused to make a contribution and asked that we take it out of our General Fund which hits everyone in the county. Commissioner Scurlock noted that this year the Ambulance Squad decreased their funding request because they knew of the problems we were having with our budget. 8 M