9/11/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I SEP i 11991 BOOK 84 PA_E GENERAL FUND Chairman Bird asked that Administrator Chandler first address the General Fund. Administrator Chandler informed those present that the proposed millage for the General Fund is 4.6423, and that is 3.40% below the rollback rate. The proposed budget of $40,584,377 contains an expense increase of 2.42% which is primarily associated with additional positions for two new parks, the EMS Equalization Plan, Health Insurance, salary contingen- cies, and the annualized cost for the new Phase III of the Jail which will be going into operation. Chairman Bird opened the public hearing on the General Fund and asked if anyone wished to be heard. Fred Mensing, resident of Roseland, expressed his opinion that everyone is looking to get re-elected, and the County is simply playing games with numbers to show the taxpayers that they are holding th.e line in millage. He felt it is time that the Commission took the axe to some of the expenses and told staff they are going to have to work within these constraints. He pointed out that we are in a recession; we have got very high unemployment in this region; and he, therefore, felt the Board as elected officials should hold an absolute line, not a millage line, which is a lot of financial double talk. Mr. Mensing stressed that if you increase his assessment by 12%, you haven't held anything and continued to contend that the County is increasing taxes with their rollback millage. He did agree that the public did vote on the Fire Districts and bonds for the Libraries, but they didn't vote on rollback millage or this budget. Mr.. Mensing stated that a meeting at 5:00 in the afternoon is a meeting no working person can attend, and he believed that we will be looking at new faces on the Commission if we are looking at higher dollar taxes. John Welton, Winter Beach resident, just wished to say "ditto." Stanley Brewer., 461 Avocado Ave., Sebastian, informed the Board that his property valuation went up 40% and his total taxes went up 300, and he is sick of it. John Boudrot, county resident, came before the Board with his baby son, John Paul. He felt it is appropriate to have his son present because he wished to point out that every penny more he has to pay out in taxes is one less that he can spend on his family. He asked that the Board please find some way, particu- larly in these difficult economic times, to control taxes. Erica Babcock, Vero Highlands, wished to add her "ditto." 6