GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The tentative millage set by the Board of County Commissioners is lower than what taxpayers received in their TRIM notices.

The estimated county millage rate originally was 9.332, an increase of 1.231, but the board voted 5-0 vote Tuesday night to a millage rate of 8.101.

“Howard Wanamaker has one sharp pencil because our county manager has (maintained the millage) and what he’s done is not easy,” commissioner Mike Cella said. “We are going to be able to lower the proposed rate from 9.332 to 8.101 which is what we were always hoping to do.”

With no change in the millage from last year, residents still should expect an increase in their taxes. Most of that can be attributed to the school board’s one mill increase to pay for school district security and operational measures.

Voters approved this mill increase last year and it will appear on taxes this year. Another factor is property value. Because the millage is a tax against a property’s value, if the value rises, the total tax amount rises. While the millage from the BCC will remain the same as it was last year – 8.101 – any property that saw an increase in value will see an increase in taxes.

Despite approving the millage, the BCC still is at odds with how money will be spent.

“If we’re in the hole, then it’s not a balanced budget,” commissioner Wayne Bolla said. “We’re taking about $4 million out of reserves to make this budget work. When I asked the budget people how long that can last, in three years, we’d be out of business.

“We’re not taking in enough tax dollars to cover the budget we have. I’m not in favor of raising the tax rates right now, but I would be in favor of asking our county manager to sharpen his pencil once again.”

To balance the budget the millage would need to be increased to 8.5, according to Bolla. With the one-mill increase from the school board, Bolla said he doesn’t want to increase Clay County taxes.

Bolla asked Wanamaker to find additional cuts so the BCC can balance its budget without dipping into its reserves.

Commissioner Diane Hutchings took issue with the budget as well, particularly Sheriff Darryl Daniels’ budget.

“There are things in that budget that are disturbing,” Hutchings said. “I went and met with him and asked him how many calls for service does he get to school (district) properties. He got 1,000 a year and didn’t back those out of his costs, so I think there are things in there that need to be looked at.”

The sheriff’s office’s contract with the Clay County School District will end in two weeks. The school district now has its own police department.

Daniels’ original budget request called for a $10.2 million increase, but Daniels and Wanamaker worked those numbers down to $4.9 million. Hutchings asked Wanamaker to work with the sheriff to find more cuts.

Residents spoke in favor of the county’s new budget, including Anthony Interlandy.

“I was going to rise to vehemently to oppose this millage increase (based on the TRIM notice) but I’m changing that to congratulate you (commissioners) and county manager for sharpening your pencils and maintaining the millage rate at 8.101,” Interlandy said. “Excellent work. You’ve taken a key step here by showing the taxpayers that you have our interest at heart and what you’re doing by maintaining the rate, and not succumbing to these rather large increases that are requested by department heads, is going to continue to bring people in to Clay County and encourage them to raise their children here.”

The BCC will hold another public hearing on the budget on Sept. 24. That will be the final chance for residents to respond.