Jean Kassab, Director of Administrative Services sent a memo to the Escambia County Commission for today’s budget workshop. She anticipates a $12 million reduction in the General Fund due to Amendment 1. She projects several budget increases.
EMS will need $1 million subsidy to “maintain current levels of service.” – This may explain why former County Administrator George Touart wanted to use some of the tax money (had it passed) from the Access Escambia tax.
ECAT needs $1 million to cover an expired mass transit service development grant ($700,000) and the loss of City of Pensacola funding. – County has a signed interlocal agreement from Sept 2006 with the City to completely fund ECAT with a permanent revenue source (probably a gas tax).
Recession is impacting other revenue sources: “Half-Cent Sales Tax and Guaranteed Revenue Sharing may also decline by as $900,000.”
Popularity: 2% [?]
” As to the CRA, it is funding which we collect and then remit to the City through no choice of ours.”
So the .6 is to buy out the CRA ‘s share in the parking lot that CRA funds built and not the funding collected by the county?
Thanks clarification.
CRA needs money that’s for sure.
Rick, has Grover Robinson lost his luster yet? You were pretty high on him in 2006.
I agree Robert!! The media seems to be working real hard to spin a recession .
Is it the election year or what?
the cra number referenced above is ‘point’ 6 million (ie 600K)…not 6 million.. part 1 of 3 to buy the cra out of the garage.
Recession? So when did you become an economist? We have yet to have one negative quater of growth let alone two.
If this does turn into a recession it appears to me to be a self fulfilling prophecy more than anything else.
Got that Mike.
It is a comparison of the total amounts collected from SRIA and CRA
vs the amount of salary adjustments.
Any comment on the adjustments?
Mike,
You posted:
“RECURRING not one-time expenses.
Salary adjustment-sheriff 5.4 million
Salary adj-other elected 1.5 million”
I hope you are not telling us that the BOCC will be making these salary “adjustments” again in the 2008-2009 budget.
Dear Anonymous,
The 6.5 million for SRIA is NOT funding. It is the taxes collected from the island which we can NOT spend. It is part of the $31 million to which you referred. As to the CRA, it is funding which we collect and then remit to the City through no choice of ours.
I am unsure as to your reference to the parking garage and courthouse as I have NEVER supported either expenditure. In fact, both were contracted BEFORE I was elected.
The biggest expense listed is the 6.9 mill in salary adjustments.
What is an adjustment? An increase?
If so, did anyone check to see if the county could afford those adjustments prior to making the adjustments?
Coming in next at .4 mill less than salary adjustments is -funding for SRIA 6.5
and then funding the entire City CRA District budget of 6 mill
So could the county really afford the courthouse and parking garage that the commish said was needed if there was a need to 15 mill from the budget last year?
Anonymous,
Of the $31 miliion, some $15 million was cut from last years budget. The balance was allocated as follows and these are RECURRING not one-time expenses.
Salary adjustment-sheriff 5.4 million
Salary adj-other elected 1.5 million
Code enforcement .8 million
Property insurance 2.4 million
software support .5 million
park maintenance .2 million
City CRA .6 million
Medical-jail 1.5 million
Santa Rosa Island 6.5 million
total 19.4 million
As you can see, we are operating at a budget level that is less than 2004. The reductions this year will bring us back to around 2003 levels. The SRIA money will not be available until the lawsuits are settled.
If you have any questions, I will happy to explain further.
Again I ask, what happened to the $30 – $31 million dollars EXTRA that the County raked in with increased property taxes begining in 2006? If the budget needs to be cut $12 million that would still leave plenty left over of the additional funds brought into the County coffers by the overtaxed citizens.