Politics

Your budget primer

By JOHN FRANK
Published July 24, 2007

In the past five years, Hernando County has witnessed unprecedented growth. Translation: More people and more development brought more money into county coffers.

Hernando's total spending more than doubled - a 109 percent increase - to $434-million from fiscal year 2002 to fiscal year 2007, according to a Hernando Times computer-assisted analysis. Likewise, property tax collections rose 105 percent to more than $90-million. The growth easily outpaced the increases seen in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Now, property tax reforms mandated from Tallahassee mean a reversal of fortunes for Hernando. Officials must roll back tax rates and trim 7 percent from the spending plan. The bulk of the cuts will come from the $120.6-million general fund.

When it comes to the budget, it's important to look at two distinct categories: total spending and the general fund. Total spending takes into account all revenues, including service charges, user fees and money from grants. General fund money is primarily the dollars generated by property taxes and the local portion of sales tax. The fund pays for operating expenses and is typically the subject of most debate.

As the County Commission begins budget deliberations Wednesday and Thursday, use this budget primer to help you understand and judge the discussions. The figures below answer some questions and raise others. Our coverage will continue until the final county budget is adopted in September. The 2007-08 budget year begins Oct. 1.

All figures represent fiscal years in millions and are rounded up to the nearest $100,000, unless the figure is less than $1-million.

Budget breakdown

The accounts of money that control county spending:

Sheriff's Office

$30.9-million

The bulk - $26.7-million, or 86 percent - of the sheriff's budget in fiscal year 2007 went to salaries and benefits for 202 deputies, 42 sworn supervisors and 144 other staffers. Operating expenses of $3.3-million covered equipment, insurance, repairs and maintenance. Also, last year the agency received $274,000 for building upgrades and $241,000 for a storage facility. The agency's budget procedurally is set by the state with input from local officials. The agency generated $693,000 in revenue, which includes fines and money for school resource officers.

Hernando County Jail

$11.9-million

All but a small fraction of the money for the jail goes to cover expenses incurred by Corrections Corporation of America, the private Tennessee-based company contracted to manage the facility. The jail's inmate population continues to grow - capacity is 730 - which increases the costs associated with housing, food, legal services and security at the facility on Spring Hill Drive. Last year, the county paid $59,000 to provide someone to handle contract matters, and the jail received $10,000 to replace the telephone system equipment.

Reserve for emergencies

$8.4-million

Think hurricanes. This fund is based on well-founded fears of living in a coastal Florida county. Having quick cash on hand in times of emergencies is important. The county can tap this money to cover damage or recovery expenses before potential funds from the state or federal governments become available. Tax dollars don't flow into this account annually. Instead, the coffers filled up with excess funds not spent in previous years. It earns interest, as do other reserve accounts, and county officials hope they don't ever need to use this money.

Facilities maintenance

$4-million

Behind the county's buildings and grounds stands the facilities maintenance division. Its goal: Keep all county properties - excluding parks - safe, attractive and accessible. It accounts for $3.6-million. This means anything from mowing the grass and fixing the plumbing to waxing floors and cleaning toilets. The department's role has increased as the county added new buildings in recent years, including two libraries and the emergency operations center. The department also helps with planning new facilities and renovating old ones.

Parks maintenance

$3-million

Twenty-five parks dot the county's landscape from Pine Island on the coast to Lake Townsen near the Sumter County border. Maintaining these properties takes up a considerable chunk of taxpayer dollars. General upkeep costs $1.6-million while landscaping maintenance expenses reach $800,000. The department employs 39 staffers, including a foreman, horticulture technicians and gate attendants. Last year, the department spent $65,000 on capital expenses, buying three new radios, two new trucks and making improvements to two parks.

*Figures do not include other sources of revenue. Also, major departments such as utilities and fire departments aren't included because they are funded primarily by service charges and impact fees.

Fastest growers

In the past five years, these line items accounted for the largest increases in spending of tax dollars.*

[Last modified July 24, 2007, 06:48:38]