Sumter County will slash overall spending about 25 percent next year, according to a proposed budget presented Tuesday night to the county board.
The county will spend $168 million in 2017-18 compared to $225 million last year. Much of the decrease comes because two new public safety buildings near Pinellas Plaza and in Bushnell, expected to be completed late this year, are largely paid off.
Commissioners voted to approve the tentative budget and final adoption is scheduled on Sept. 26.
“Government isn’t the answer to everything, but we provide good service to our citizens,” said board chairman Doug Gilpin.
A tax rate of $5.52 per $1,000 assessed valuation is slightly below the rolled-back rate, which is the rate needed to collect the same revenue as the prior year. This is the 13th consecutive year the rate for county taxes has been at or below the rolled-back rate.
With 99 revenue sources, the county will collect nearly $60 million in property taxes next year, about $12 million in local option sales taxes and roughly $8 million in other taxes, according to the proposed budget.
A 4.6 percent population increase to 124,000 residents was estimated for Sumter County by the University of Florida. More growth is expected, especially with The Villages plan to build 11,000 to 16,000 homes in the villages of Fenney and Southern Oaks.
Twenty-two positions, including a dozen detention deputies, will be added next year in the Sheriff’s Office, boosting the total to 331 employees. The supervisor of elections will add two positions and the tax collector will add three positions. The property tax appraiser will cut one position.
The largest spending increases are for public safety. The Villages Public Safety Fire District budget of $11 million is up $2.9 million from last year while the sheriff’s budget of $28.7 million is up $2.7 million.
Outstanding debt was $76.2 million as of June 30, which includes money borrowed last year for construction of the two public safety buildings.
Next year’s capital projects include $137,800 for improvements at the Coleman board ramp and Gant Lake as well as $62,462 for a supervisor of elections warehouse. About $500,000 is allocated for the North Public Safety Building near Pinellas Plaza.
Sumter County will spend about $14 million on roadway improvements next year, including major projects on county roads 48, 525 east and 673.
The county will reimburse Duke Energy $1.8 million for relocation of transmission lines along County Road 468 between U.S. 301 and County Road 505. The Villages is paying for the widening of CR 468 in exchange for waiver of road impact fees.
