Supes to cut size of tax hike

Board agrees to shave $1 million in spending; budget approval seen at tonight's meeting

County Supervisors tonight will approve the County's budget and supporting tax rate for the coming FY 2008-09 year. Their approval comes after two public hearings last week during which County residents pleaded for lower tax rates than those advertised. "We have worked hard on this budget," said Board Chairman William I. Fitzgerald. "This has been the most difficult budget we have faced in the seven plus years I've been on this board," Fitzgerald said, adding "this County needs growth." Fitzgerald said he and other Supervisors, along with County Administrator Bryan Foster have worked for the past several days on the budget and had managed to cut $1 million from it. But, he explained, Foster got news on Friday that state funding to the County would be cut by $250,000. "I think we have the votes to set the real estate rate somewhere between 44 or 45 cents per $100 value rather than the 48 cents per $100 we advertised," Fitzgerald said. He added that he feels the Board will approve a personal property tax rate of $3.60 per $100 rather than the advertised $3.65 per $100 value. "Everybody is going to have to share the pain," he said. Specifically Fitzgerald said the tentative plans call for the following reductions: County employees will only get a three percent increase, rather than a four percent raise. Another $12,000 was cut from the budget for local

fire departments although each of the 12 departments will get $1,500 more than last year. A new part-time employee for the animal control office was also eliminated and the contribution to the Southside Community Services Board (SCSB) was lowered to $81,000  although $4,000 was allocated for the Healthy Families Program. Last year the SCSB got only $78,000 in local funds. The regional library budget request was reduced by $18,000 although the

library will get $10,000 more than last year while the 911 budget was lowered by another $8,000. Schools will receive only $343,000 more than in last year's budget and  no funding will be included in the Industrial Development Authority's budget for the coming year, beginning July 1 for an executive director until one is hired. Also cut in the IDA budget is the accounting position which will be transferred to the County's accounting system. Also the County will not open four convenience centers as originally planned, but staff will attempt to find sites for one or two with

County employees doing the work. Funds for those sites will be approved on a case by case basis as locations for the centers are found. The Sheriff's Department will get $30,000 for the operation of its Drug Task Force and drug enforcement activities. "We are still pulling from our reserves in order to finance this budget," said Finance Chairman Doug Bowman, who added, "we're all right now, but we can't continue to do this indefinitely. We hope that our

economy will grow during this year so our reserves will remain in good shape."