Hardee County commissioners debate millage options as proposed budget funds new equipment and staff

Hardee County commissioners on Tuesday reviewed a proposed fiscal-year budget built on a maximum millage rate of 8.395 and discussed cuts, capital needs and staffing as they weigh whether to seek a lower rate before a required Thursday filing.

The budget presentation included roughly $2,649,000 for rolling stock and heavy equipment, a proposed addition of 13 full-time positions plus the conversion of two part-time roles (an equivalent of 14 FTEs), and line items to begin a preventive maintenance fund for county buildings. Commissioners debated whether to keep the proposed rate, move to a half rollback or adopt the formal rollback rate — each option would require staff to identify specific reductions before public hearings in September.

The millage debate matters because property values in the county increased this year. Staff said a rollback from the 8.395 rate to 7.6433 would require cutting about $2.2 million from the budget; a "halfway back" scenario at 8.0192 would require about $1.1 million in reductions. Commissioners emphasized they must set the highest allowable proposed rate this week and can only lower it later, not increase it.

Most of the capital-equipment items were reviewed in detail. Staff listed vehicle and equipment purchases included in the proposed budget: a Ford Transit van for information technology, a generator for facilities, a $50,000 truck for the building department, three Lifepak 15 devices for the fire department (totaling about $150,000), six scope replacements ($20,000), a veterans mobility vehicle program, a Kubota UTV ($23,000) for parks, a dump trailer for Hardy Lakes, a Gradall-style road grader described in the presentation at $640,000, a side-arm mower ($200,000), a 4-inch piston pump ($5,000), a plate compactor, a Billy Goat walk-behind mower, a D3 dozer ($190,000), a ground-penetrating radar unit ($20,000) to be shared across capital projects, a shop welder and plasma cutter, an X-ray machine for the sheriff's office ($22,000), an engine pump overhaul ($50,000), a crane-equipped truck for utilities, countywide smart meters ($250,000), a tanker truck and high-reach loader for solid waste, and a rubber-track skid steer (about $100,000). Staff said the rolling-stock list had been “scrubbed pretty hard.”

Commissioners pressed staff on use and lifespan of major items. One commissioner asked how often submersible pumps and lift-station pumps require removal; staff said the crane-equipped truck would be used for pumps in wells and lift stations across the county and that crews currently call for outside help. On the grader, staff said a properly maintained machine can last 15 to 20 years and noted parts for the county’s oldest grader are now difficult to source. Staff also noted one 1999 New Holland side-arm mower has accrued about $141,168 in tracked maintenance since purchase and that two side-arm mowers remain in regular operation.

On buildings and preventive maintenance, staff described a multi-year effort to create a facilities maintenance fund. Last year managers began with a $750,000 commitment that was cut to $250,000; this budget proposes additional funding (staff referenced roughly $3.4 million in amounts being considered for the maintenance fund in discussion) to begin building a recurring reserve for roof and chiller replacements and other large repairs. Staff said some facility work may be funded through other appropriations tied to a planned move of court functions into a new building, and acknowledged that major repairs and replacements are often difficult to fund through grants and may require bonding or other financing.

Staff also explained the county still relies on outside contractors for major HVAC and chiller work because in-house teams have limited certified personnel and certain jobs exceed the scope of county crews. A line in the budget identified about $815,000 for air-conditioner replacements this fiscal year, but staff warned some larger replacements would still go to contract per procurement rules.

On personnel, staff said the original budget request exceeded 20 new positions and was reduced to the current 13-plus conversions (14 FTEs). Presenters said added staff are intended to support maintenance, parks, facilities and other services that will increase the county’s capacity to use new equipment and maintain growing square footage.

Sheriff remarks: the county’s sheriff (name not provided in the transcript) explained increases in his proposed budget and described three main drivers: reduced use of an excess 9-1-1 fund that had previously covered a portion of dispatch staffing, a roughly $1.6 million radio replacement bid for end-of-life radios, and rising operating and medical costs for the jail. The sheriff said his department shifted some prior capital requests to other lines this year and described an across-the-board pay approach for deputies in his budget request. He characterized the budget items as needs rather than wants.

Commissioners voiced divided preferences on the millage. Several commissioners said they favor a rollback to give taxpayers relief; others urged keeping the proposed maximum so the county can leverage recent appropriations and continue investments in equipment, facilities and employee compensation. Multiple commissioners asked staff and the property appraiser for more granular data showing which property types (residential, commercial, tangible personal property such as industry equipment) bear the greatest share of the tax increase. Staff said they will prepare scenarios and that the county must advertise a proposed maximum millage rate at Thursday’s meeting.

No formal vote was taken at the session; staff said they had heard a working consensus to proceed with the currently proposed maximum rate for the purpose of this week’s filing while preparing alternate scenarios (including the half rollback and full rollback) to consider at the September hearings. Staff also asked commissioners to be available for individual follow-up meetings the next day.

The meeting closed with staff thanking finance and management team members for the budget work and reminding commissioners that Thursday’s agenda will include the maximum millage rate resolution and related special assessments.