Santa Rosa County Commissioners meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. to discuss the fiscal year 2021 budget, which starts October 1. There is a 6.45 percent overall decrease from the FY 2020 budget, and the bulk of that difference is due to roughly $14 million which was spent or allocated from county reserves for the following projects:
$4,775,176 toward new courthouse project $2,426,260 geothermal unit at Santa Rosa County Jail **this line item may be returned to reserves $1,300,000 front entrance at Central Landfill $855,122 re-decking Navarre Beach Fishing pier $700,000 Pea Ridge connector road $550,000 construction of hangars at Peter Prince airport $500,000 Navarre Beach berm restoration monitoring $500,000 Navarre Beach Utilities lift station #6 upgrade $500,000 ALLOCATION tourist development reserve fund for potential projects $500,000 ALLOCATION general fund reserve for unforeseen expenses $213,000 Eglin rapid infiltration basin project (for wastewater discharge) $150,000 Navarre Beach Utilities well house #2 replacement $150,000 improvement plan and noise study at Peter Prince airport $100,000 land fill cell C expansion $270,000 ALLOCATION for land fill expansion $100,000 ALLOCATION for 457 plan $100,000 ALLOCATION for retirements $80,000 Blackwater Development Tax Rebate (economic development) $25,000 Sunrise Drive drainage improvement design $50,000 TKB East Branch channel restoration $32,000 spriging machine for parks and recreation $30,000 West Williams Creek channel restoration design $20,000 Benny Russell Park design $20,000 Edgewood Drive drainage improvement design $5,000 shower towers at Navarre Beach
According to Jayne S. Nicholas, director of the county’s Office of Management & Budget, not all of the aforementioned items have been expended.
“I do not think that any of the expenditures (listed) will be reimbursed,” Nicholas said. “The funds that are not expended will fall to the fund balance.”
Other factors influencing the upcoming year’s budget include a projected $4.6 million increase in property tax revenues generated by an increase in the county’s overall property values from $10.4 to 11.2 billion, including increased value from new construction.
The proposed budget will be updated prior to the September 15 budget hearing, and South Santa Rosa News will follow and share any related changes.
Tomorrow’s budget workshop starts at 9 a.m. at the County Administrative Complex, located at 6495 Caroline Street in Milton. Supporting documentation (skip to pg 41 for financial summaries) and video of the meeting will be available for live streaming or playback at the following link: LINK TO COUNTY BUDGET HEARING VIDEO
