Decision on a 'sheriff's tax' delayed

A hearing on separating taxation for the office is set for March.

By JOHN FRANK, Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - A decision five years in the making finally came to a vote Tuesday before the County Commission: whether to create a special taxing district for the Sheriff's Office.

And what did they do? Voted to hold a public hearing - in five months.

The delay gives county staffers and law enforcement officials time to research the complex topic of municipal service taxing units. It came as a sense of relief to Sheriff Richard Nugent, who felt the tide in favor of a special taxing district pushing stronger than ever.

"It does give us more time to make sure we are making the right decisions," he told commissioners. The reasoning is the same Nugent used to shelve the idea in 2002, when he was fearful of "making a bad decision in a short period of time."

But not everything is the same this time around. Nugent, for one, isn't ardently opposing the measure. He still philosophically believes his agency should get money from the county's general-fund tax dollars, but he stops there.

"Part of the reason I'm open to it is everything that went on in the last budget year," he explained after the meeting.

What went on was a very public spat between the county's top cop and the county's top leaders, namely the commissioners and Administrator Gary Kuhl, about who deserved the attention for spending the bulk of tax dollars.

The rebuke, and unwanted blame, rallied commissioners behind this measure. Commissioner Diane Rowden had the votes to set a public hearing on the creation of a tax district for the Oct. 16 commission meeting. But she retreated moments before the board discussion, striking a deal with Nugent to set the hearing for March 4 with the understanding that the sheriff wouldn't rally opposition to kill the proposal.

"He came to me with an olive branch and I had mine," she said afterward.

Supporters of a new taxing district argue that it would create more public accountability when it comes to spending at the Sheriff's Office. On tax bills, the agency's portion of the millage rate would be delineated apart from the county's general fund tax rate, which would decrease proportionately. Still, commissioners would set the agency's tax rate and approve its annual spending plans.

Critics argue the change is superficial, allowing commissioners to shift the liability to the Sheriff's Office and nothing more. Then there's the evil word "tax."

"Any new taxing entity makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck," said Commissioner David Russell, the lone vote against scheduling a public hearing.

If anything, the additional time before the public hearing gives county staff time to educate the public about the issue. Judging from the comments made by a handful of residents at the meeting Tuesday, much work is needed. Marilyn Fitch of Brooksville said taxpayers want lower taxes, not new ones.

George Zoettlein, the county's budget director, explained that the MSTU measure wouldn't create any new taxes. He also added that it would be difficult for commissioners to increase taxes if they wanted to because state law caps the millage rate.

John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 352 754-6114.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 21:04:57]