Dade City's budget increases by 1 percent

It could change at the final hearing Sept. 27.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, Times Staff Writer
Published September 14, 2007

DADE CITY - Commissioners took the first step toward approving the 2007-08 budget at Thursday night's meeting. The proposed $10.68-million budget is based on a 7.10 millage rate, down from 7.84 mills last year. The new rate accommodates rising property values and will provide similar ad valorem revenues for the city compared to what it received last year.

A mill produces $1 in tax for every $1,000 in taxable property value. At 7.10 mills, a person whose home is assessed at $150,000, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $887.50 in city taxes. Dade City residents also pay 1.1 mills to Pasco County for fire protection as well as taxes to the School Board and other entities.

The overall budget, which increased only 1 percent from last year, accommodates a 2 percent raise for eligible city employees.

This didn't sit well with Commissioner Steve Van Gorden, who called the tentative raise amount "embarrassing."

Many employees, he said, are taking on extra duties to cover open positions within the city and deserve more than a 2 percent raise.

Van Gorden also said he didn't want to increase taxes because "residents are taxed to death."

He proposed that the city freeze some of its current openings, cap the commissioners' allocated travel expenses and direct any money saved from not having a city manager since July back to city employees.

Commissioner Scott Black and Mayor Hutch Brock agreed with Van Gorden. They said they also wanted to look for more recurring sources of revenue in the future.

All city departments trimmed back their expenses in preparation for the 2007-08 budget, said Jim Class, city finance director.

The Police Department, however, will receive $15,000 more for employee overtime pay.

The department is down three positions, said Capt. David Duff, operations captain and interim police chief.

"When you're short, someone still has to cover the shifts," Duff said before Thursday's meeting.

The increased allocation for police overtime pay is a more realistic picture of what the department has needed in the past, Class said at an August budget workshop.

The final public hearing on the 2007-08 budget will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at htravis@sptimes.com or 352 521-6518.

[Last modified September 13, 2007, 21:45:22]