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County staff identify $4.9 million in recurring reserve adjustments and recommend translating savings into a millage reduction
Summary
Budget staff told the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 14 that targeted reserve reductions and operational adjustments could free about $4.9 million in recurring resources, and commissioners discussed translating the savings into a millage-rate reduction while cautioning against using one-time funds for ongoing costs.
Chris Rose, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and County Administrator Barry Burton (referred to throughout the meeting as Barry) briefed commissioners on Aug. 14 about general-fund reserve levels, targeted reductions in certain reserves, and the policy tradeoffs between one-time and ongoing funding as the county prepares the fiscal 2026 budget.
Rose explained that the county’s unrestricted general-fund reserve after storm-year spending stands near $111.1 million (about 12% of total revenues) and that next year’s budget assumes FEMA reimbursements of about $19.8 million; with that assumption the projected reserve level would be roughly 17.9% of revenues. Rose said the Government Finance Officers Association recommends a minimum reserve of two months of operating revenue, and Pinellas’ current ordinance target is 20.8% (roughly…
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