PAGE 2 - March 14, 2012
The Newscaster - Nature Coast News
Citrus Commissioners hear
Pet Patrol
recommendationslaid out balance budget
to the obvious up front to start the budget
County Administrator Brad Thorpe
workshop for County Commissioners Wednesday morning. “We have been reducing our
budget without effecting services…and that time is over. We have very limited options and
we’ve got to pay some of these bills.”
Thorpe along with County Management and Budget Director Cathy Taylor went
through the past, present and future with the Commissioners and in the end, gave them three
options for balancing the budget.
Ms. Taylor showed Commissioners a comparison of Citrus County to other coun-
ties in the state when it comes to the millage rate. “We have one of the lowest rates in Florida
at 55th in the state.”
She also explained how much revenue was lost due to property value reductions
“Butch is the greatest little 12 pound, 1 yo
over the past several years. “From 2008 – 2011, we’ve seen a $19.2 million dollar loss in
n.m. Chihuahua-Wire Terrier mixed dog Grover is an adorable Toy Fox Terrier. He is
revenue.” Thorpe added, “We have a revenue problem, not an expense problem.”
that enjoys playing and just hanging around approximately 5 yrs old and weighs about
Chairman Winn Webb observed that this is about stabilizing the budget. “We gotta
with you. He hasn’t been away from home 13 lbs. Grover is a very loving guy. He en-
pay our bills. We’ve been using savings to pay our bills for the past three years and possibly
and all of the other little dogs and cats at his joys playing with his tennis balls and likes
again this year, but we’re running out of savings. We want to try and get there as painlessly
owner’s, until now, but is open to seeing and to run outside. He does like to get attention
as possible.”
doing whatever you like. He enjoys tummy but is very sweet about it. He sleeps on the
By law, the board has the ability to adjust the millage upward to achieve the same
rubs and all of the attention you want to give bed with his foster mom and dad with their
revenue as the year before. The board has kept the millage the same at 5.7299 for the past
him. He is quite receptive to learning and to dogs. He is house broken, walks well on a
four years, despite the reduction in revenue resulting from property value reduction.
please you. Butch is white with black, tan, is leash and enjoys riding in a car. He needs
Property Appraiser Geoff Greene affirmed the revenue problem the board is facing.
a little lover after he gets to know you, with a home that will give him a lot of attenion
“In a declining market, you can actually raise the millage rate to achieve the same levy and
a positive disposition, is housebroken, gen- and love. Adopt A Rescued Pet, Inc. does
the tax bills will still go down, depending on the percentages.”
tle on the leash, and is a real sweetheart. A home visits prior to adoptions, therefore, we
Commissioner Dennis Damato agreed. “We had the opposite problem in 06’-07’,
Humane Society of CENTRAL FLORIDA can only adopt to the Citrus County and ad-
we had too much money and we had to adjust the millage to get it back in line. We have to
Pet Rescue, Inc. does home visits prior to joining county areas. If you are within these
do the same thing now.”
adoptions, therefore, we only adopt to the areas, please, phone Adopt A Rescued Pet,
Commissioner Joe Meek also weighed in. “When we are discussing the issue, we
Citrus County and adjoining county areas. leave your name, number, and pet’s name,
get caught up in the millage increase. Citizens think we’re raising the millage, but what they
If you are within these areas, see this dog for a return call from the foster mom, lat-
don’t realize is their property taxes are still dropping. The bottom line is they are seeing their
and others at our WEEKLY SATURDAY er, at 795.9550. All of our dogs have been
taxes going up and that’s the discussion that we, as a board, have to frame for the citizens of
Adoption Events, located at Pet Super- sterilized, tested negative for heart worm,
this county.
market, Inverness,10-12 PM. If you must on heart worm prevention, on flea preven-
As the County Administrator, Mr. Thorpe presented three options:
give up your little dog phone 527.9050 or tion, up to date on vaccines, wormed, ID
Option 1: Millage Increase, Approve millage increase of .8063, Increase revenues by $7.4
a Doberman Pinscher, phone 795.1745 and chippe d and vet checked. Checkwww.adop-
million. The results would require no programs to be cut and maintain the same level of ser-
leave you name, number and information tarescuedpet.com for our other pets and the
vice. This would also adjust to correct the deficiency caused by declining property values.
with how you need us to help you.www. ADOPTION CALENDAR with locations,
Option 2: Keep Current Millage. The results of this option would include a number of
dates and times. Come see the pets!
AHumaneSocietyPetRescue.com “
program reductions or closures. Estimated reductions total $5 million with an additional $2
Citrus County Animal Services - Please call (352) 746-8400 for questions or appointments.
million in other reductions.
FEES: Rabies $5, DA2PPv $8, FVRCP $8, Bordatella (cat or dog) $8, Microchip $10, Heartworm
Option 3: Keep Current Millage. Change reserve policy. The results would require no pro-
Test $10, Feline Leukemia $10, Capstar $4, County License for Altered (spayed or neutered) Pets
gram reductions. The County would carry a risk if a catastrophic event such as a hurricane
$5, County License for Un-Altered (not spayed or neutered) Pets $25.
would hit the County or other anticipated expenses were encountered. There would be no
margin of error with property value adjustments or unbudgeted events. Another result would
Continued on page 8 - Citrus Budget
Realty
Sally Price, Realtor
19 Hwy 40 W.
(352) 302-8556 cell
Inglis
3 ACRES ROSE AVE INGLIS $28,900
3 nice wooded acres on a dead end
street makes a wonderful homesight
for your next home. Large enough for
your home, pool, garden, RV, boat and
toys. Near bike path, boat launches and
equestrian trails. Close to town but still
private. Waiting for you to call it home.
Recently reduced and ready to go.
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