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Committee delays removing $38 convenience-center fee from homestead bills; staff warns of $145,000 cost
Summary
The finance committee discussed removing a $38 solid-waste convenience-center fee from homestead tax bills for seniors but did not act after staff warned the change would cost about $145,000 this year and require an increased transfer from the general fund; the committee agreed to revisit during the next budget cycle while monitoring a state-level change to the homestead exemption.
The committee reviewed a proposal to remove a $38 convenience-center fee from homestead tax bills for residents 65 and older. Miss Stanley told the committee removing the fee this fiscal year would lower revenues by roughly $145,000 and likely require an additional transfer from the general fund to keep convenience centers operating.
"If y'all take it off of those homestead bills, then that's going to cost me another $140 something,000 that I've got to come up with," Miss Stanley said, explaining that the county has already budgeted that revenue and that the convenience centers are partially subsidized by a general-fund transfer.
Committee members noted the state has moved the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $100,000 and urged caution before layering a local reduction on top of the state change. Staff and members agreed to continue gathering numbers and to revisit the question during the next budget cycle rather than make a mid-year change; several members emphasized the need to avoid surprise changes for residents who have already paid bills this year.
Decision and next steps: no formal action was taken; staff will continue research and coordinate with the assessor and auditor offices so the committee can consider the item during the next budget process.
