Gadsden County Public Library

February 27, 2007 -- Quincy, Fla. -- The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting/Workshop on Monday, March 5, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is being held to discuss recent state legislative proposals concerning changes to the current property tax system across the State of Florida on the potential local fiscal impact of the recently proposed legislation. The legislative proposals in question range from raising the homestead exemption amount from $25,000 to $50,000 to completely eliminating property taxes in exchange for a 2 1/2 cent increase in the state-wide sales tax levy.

"Early estimates project as much as a potential $2 million decrease in current general revenues if some of the current proposed legislation is adopted and implemented," said Davin J. Suggs, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Board will discuss and analyze strategies to mitigate proposed legislation. County staff will present potential cuts in programs and services to account for the loss of revenue.

Commissioner Eugene Lamb, Jr., Gadsden County's representative on the Florida Association of Counties Property Tax Workgroup, said, "It is anticipated that the several programs currently funded in the Fiscal Year 2007 budget through the use of property taxes will be severly impacted or cut by property tax reductions. These include Library Services, Parks and Recreation, Veteran's Services, Animal Control, Solid Waste Services, Community Development and Housing, Planning and Zoning, and Emergency Medical Services." Additionally, the Board also utilizes general revenue to support the Gadsden County Senior Citizens Center, Gadsden County Commuinity Health Council, Gadsden County Health Department, Gadsden County Summer Youth Employment Program and the Gadsden County Non-Profit Funding Program.

"Other potential cuts in funding will include the Clerk of the Court, the Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, and Property Appraiser," said Brenda A. Holt, Chairman of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners. The Tax Collector's budget is based on a commission earned from property taxes collected and, therefore, will also be reduced as a result of the current proposed legislation.

Chairman Holt is further encouraging all property and business owners in Gadsden County to attend since any decision by the Board will ultimately affect them.

All citizens are invited to this Special Meeting/Workshop to gain a better understanding of these pending issues. For more information regarding this meeting, please contact the County Manager's Office at (850) 875-8650 or the Office of Management and Budget at (850) 627-8433.