Manatee County budget breakdown

Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part short series regarding Manatee County’s 2013 fiscal year budget.

MANATEE COUNTY — Manatee County officials are producing a fiscal year 2013 budget that allows for employee pay raises and other adjustments, without raising taxes for residents.

Certified tax roll figures were released to the county Sunday, July 1, and administrators will make adjustments to the budget, which goes before the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners July 26. At that time, the board will set the millage rate that will be sent out on county Truth in Millage notices in the weeks following.

Director of Manatee County Financial Management Jim Seuffert said administrators will have the adjusted budget figures ready for commissioners by July 15. If property appraiser figures come at expected levels, the county administrator’s proposed budget would be set at about 3% below the rollback rate, or the tax level needed to collect the same amount in taxes in fiscal year 2013 as in 2012. Setting property taxes at the rollback rate would allow the county to set rates at up to 3% higher without being considered a tax increase and would generate about $4 million more for the county.

The proposed budget, which currently maintains a millage rate of 6.2993, includes an approximate $4.3 million reduction in operating expenses.

Seuffert said the county has shaved $1.5 million off its electric bill by aggressively retrofitting its energy-consuming equipment and light switches, among other modifications. Additionally, departmental budgets have seen small reductions based on expenditure histories, and some county bonds also have been paid.
Although the operating side of the budget is declining, the recommended net budget for fiscal year 2013 shows an increase of $6.8 million compared to the 2012 budget. The increase in the net budget can be attributed to an increase of $11.1 million in the capital projects budget.

In the General Government Capital Improvement Program, three projects, in particular, are the driving force behind increased costs: a transit/fleet facility; the relocation of a backup data center to East County; and equipment and software upgrades for the county’s computer-aided dispatch system.

The county is planning to use budget stabilization funds, or reserves, for the next few years to maintain current levels of service without significant budget reductions, Seuffert said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

PROPOSED PAY INCREASES
As part of his recommended budget, Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker is proposing a slight amendment to employee benefits, so he can give employee pay increases — the first in five years.
In a memo to employees, Hunzeker assured employees he is working to make the changes to achieve salary increases, not to “water down” employee benefits.
Hunzeker expects to release the changes Sept. 6.

TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES & COUNTYWIDE MILLAGE RATES

PROPERTY VALUES
2004: $21.1 billion
2005: $24.7 billion
2006: $30.6 billion
2007: $34.4 billion
2008: $31.7 billion
2009: $31.7 billion
2010: $28.7 billion
2011: $23.6 billion
2012: $23.2 billion

MILLAGE RATES
2004: 7.71
2005: 7.72
2006: 7.57
2007: 7.4
2008: 6.3
2009: 6.3
2010: 6.3
2011: 6.3
2012: 6.3
2013: 6.3 (proposed)

TIMELINE: Manatee County Budget
May 31 — Constitutional officers and budget presentation
June 5 — Budget work session on budget issues regarding sheriff and public defender
June 6 — Budget meeting: Fund analysis review
June 8 — Capital Improvement Program workshop
June 14 — Public budget meeting
July 15 — Deadline for updated budget, reflecting new tax roll figures
July 26 — Special budget reconciliation meeting
Sept. 6 — Public budget hearing
Sept. 13 — Public budget hearing: Budget to be adopted

Click here to view the recommended budget summary