An additional $600,000 in fiscal constrained county payment will likely cover deficit – if approved

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The county audit committee met last week and discussed the possibility that Wakulla County will receive some $600,000 more than was budgeted for fiscally constrained county payment from the state.


The money is in the legislative budget and must be approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The additional money, if approved, would fill the remaining budget hole of a $2.4 million shortfall created when the property appraiser’s office mistakenly assessed a vacant lot in Lake Ellen Estates at $307 million. The mistake was not caught until Tax Collector Lisa Craze prepared to send out tax bills – by that time, the county and the Wakulla County School Board had already approved their budgets. (The school district faced a $1.6 million shortfall, and went to the state to request help to cover the deficit.)
The county’s shortfall has meant delays in the planned hiring of nine new deputies at the sheriff’s office, and nine new firefighters at Fire Rescue, plus other new county positions.
Property Appraiser Ed Brimner said the additional money was due to his office’s efforts to file Tangible Personal Property reports. While the state exempts the first $25,000 from taxes, Brimner’s staff has been pursuing the filings from small businesses because, as Brimner told the committee, “The state esseentially pays taxes for Wakulla County on that first $25,000.”
County Administrator David Edwards told the committee that it was time to move forward with the new hires – and that by April things could be set in motion, acknowledging that it would take time to advertise and fill the positions.
Clerk of Courts Greg James urged caution, advising the committee to look at the April numbers – which would represent a half-a-year’s financials – before moving forward.
The biggest problem is that the shortfall is not a one-time issue since the money was to be spent on new personnel, which is a recurring expense.
It is expected when the committee meets in April that the projected taxable property values will begin to come into clear focus and may well cover the recurring costs.
The audit committee is chaired by County Commission Chair Quincee Messersmith and is made up of county constitutional officers: Brimner, James, Craze, and Supervsior of Elections Joe Morgan and Sheriff Jared Miller.