County starts off in budget hole

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.”

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Author: Rick Outzen

Rick Outzen is the publisher/owner of Pensacola Inweekly. He has been profiled in The New York Times and featured in several True Crime documentaries. Rick also is the author of the award-winning Walker Holmes thrillers. His latest nonfiction book is “Right Idea, Right Time: The Fight for Pensacola’s Maritime Park.”