Santa Rosa County has set a tentative property tax rate for 2007-08 at 6.0953, a nearly 8 percent decrease from the current millage rate of 6.6175 mills. Santa Rosa’s projected budget for fiscal 2008 is estimated at $115.5 million – down $2.1 million for this year’s budget.
How did they do it? Cut the road dept. $936K by eliminating 9 jobs and reducing paving projects. Other departments that have had large cuts include Emergency Management (24.8 percent); libraries (19.3 percent); and Geographic Information Systems (69 percent).
The county’s spending plan also reduces contributions to most charities and other organizations by 10 percent. Mainstreet Milton, which helps to restore downtown Milton,was cut completely.