In response to the Levy County Commission having raised property taxes 26 percent in 2006, it may be time to trim some fat from the County budget. We suggest the following resolution be passed at the December 19 Commission meeting. Whereas, property taxes in Levy County were raised 26 percent in 2006, And, Whereas, tax bills have been irrevocably levied on property owners, And, Whereas, the tax revenues have not yet been spent, Therefore, Be It Resolved, Wherever neither public safety nor health is affected, all Levy County Departments must roll back spending to the 2006 level.
The Levy County Commissioners voted the Board of Commissioners an 11 percent increase. They gave the Administration Department a 49 percent increase over last year's expenses. They gave the County Attorney's Office a 118 percent increase over last year's expenses. They gave the Building and Zoning Department a 60 percent increase over last year's expenses. Certainly there are some places to save tax dollars before they are spent! In times past the federal government has made budget cuts well into the fiscal year. We suggest that the Levy County Commission cut department budgets as soon as possible. The Commission controls the purse strings, not department heads. January 2007 would not be too soon or too painful for Commissioners to cut budgets. Put the surplus in the bank to draw interest and help reduce taxes in 2007. One of the Commissioners, in public, said that assessed property values may go down next year. If that happens, saving tax dollars now may help avoid a shortfall next year. | 