By Linda Dean Cooper

At Tuesday’s regular BoCC meeting commissioners approved $88,500 for unbudgeted funds to be transferred from reserve accounts.  This study was not budgeted in the recent budget sessions.  A consulting firm will review EMS, Fire, and Solid Waste fees, and then provide the commissioner with a report assessment study.

Clash Between Clerk of Court and BoCC Postponed Report Last Year

This study was slated for the last budget but was postponed due to issues with the Clerk of Court’s ADG software access, a change in staffing on the Clerk’s side, and the BoCC deciding to handle their finance and budget needs. Before the change, the BoCC depended on the Clerk of Court finance department to assist with the preparation of their budgets.  The Clerk of Court continues to oversee the BoCC budget, write checks, etc. but is not involved in creating BoCC budgets as was done in the past.

Usually, this was a detailed, comprehensive report that I look forward to reviewing.  It will be interesting to see if any assessments are reduced but most likely will be increased.  I suspect that the report will be available in the next couple of months.  This report gives the commissioner different options for implementing assessments needed for budget preparations.

Current Residential Assessments: AKA (NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

• Ambulance $154
• Fire Tax      $129
• Solid Waste $116
• Vacant land fire tax $12

The agenda item was presented to commissioners as follows:

Requested Action:

Requesting the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ approval to Appropriate Reserves (Contingency) for the Fire Protection, Solid Waste Assessment, and EMS Tax Assessment Program Study in the amount of $88,500.

Cost & Funding Source:

Funding for this budget amendment will come from Reserve Accounts:

EMS: 116-9900-526-99010 – $24,500

Fire: 120-9900-522-99010 – $34,000

Solid Waste: 402-9900-534-99010 – $30,000

Justification of Request:

This Budget Amendment is needed to appropriate funds in the departments General Ledger accounts to complete the Program Study for Fire, EMS, and Solid Waste.

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Posted January 23, 2025