07/12/2017 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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The countywide tax roll has increased 7.60% from last year. New construction added 1.7% while existing values increased 5.9%. This provides additional revenue of approximately $3.6 million for the General Fund, assuming 95% collections and the same millage rate. The millage rate to fund the recommended General Fund budget is 3.4259, which is an increase of 0.0657 or $6.57 per $100,000 of taxable value. BCC budgets are down slightly (0.6%), while Constitutional Officers have increased by 4.3%. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is requesting a $44,146 increase or 4.5% over the previous fiscal year budget. This budget increase reflects the cost of rising health insurance, increases in overhead, a modest raise for employees, and an overall net increase of 1.27 positions. The Sheriff's Office requested a General Fund budget increase of $5.3 million or 11.9% from the current year. Staff is recommending a more modest increase of $46.4 million or 4.4%, which is $2.0 million less than the Sheriffs initial request. In addition, $1,309,343 in Optional Sales Tax was used to fund replacement vehicles and 800 MHz radios in the Sheriff's 2017/18 budget request to further minimize the impact on the ad valorem tax supported funds. The Supervisor of Elections has requested an increase of $38,515 or 3.0%. The primary reasons forthis increase are converting the Warehouse Manager position to full-time status, increased health care premiums, and maintenance costs of the new voting system. The Tax Collector's budget is not due until August 1st; therefore, staff has estimated no change in this budget request at this time. The Property Appraiser has requested an increase of $197,600 or 5.5% overall. General Fund dollars support the bulk of the Property Appraiser's budget, and the General Fund impact is an increase of $180,665 or 6.4%. The budget request includes funding for an additional Appraiser position and funding for employee raises. As contract negotiations were not finalized when the FY2016/17 budget was developed, an allotment for raises was not included in the adopted budget, but were subsequently funded by budget amendment. The BCC departmental funding amount is down $101,972 or 0.6%. Total staffing for BCC departments increased by 2 full time positions. These pgsitions include one (1) Tradesworker in Facilities Management to address preventative maintenance in air conditioning systems throughout the county and a Payroll Specialist in Human Resources to eliminate a single source dependency for payroll processing. Recommended State agency budgets total $3,234,992, which is an increase of $213,329 or 7.1%. This is reflective of membership in the Indian River National Estuary Program Council — $50,000 as well as increased Circuit Court costs and an increase in Indian River County's share of the Medical Examiner's budget. Circuit Court expenses in the General Fund are budgeted at $176,312. Of this amount, $159,317 is attributable to Court Technology fees not generating sufficient revenue to fund Court system technology needs. The shortfall in Court Technology fees is then borne by the General Fund. This is $68,274 less than the full $453,002 in funding requested by the Court Administrator. Indian River County's share of the Medical Examiner budget is increasing $51,699 or 13.9% reflecting the