budget concerns

Budget Message by Gary Page to BOC:

Without a better economy, the tax base and sales taxes will lag and force the Board to consider raising property taxes in order to balance the budget in 2014-15.

The alternative is to begin cutting public services. Those services include reduced operating hours at Dan Nicholas Park, reduced hours or closure of some branch libraries, and eliminating some services offered by the Animal Control Program. Nonprofit organizations that receive County appropriations could be subject to the biggest funding cuts.

The Board will have to consider prioritizing services to ensure adequate funding for welfare programs, the Sheriff’s Office, Jail, Emergency Services and Schools. Should the economy remain stagnant through the next year’s budget process, I would not be surprised to see the County Manager be forced to recommend a three cent property tax rate increase from 62.25 cents to 65.25 cents per $100 of valuation. A three cent increase would generate new revenue in excess of $3 million and provide the Board options for balancing budgets in the future.