BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Bradford County Commissioners finalized their $85.9 million budget for 2023-24 during a Sept. 18 public hearing.
Commission Chris Dougherty commented on the 10-mill property tax levy, saying the commission’s goal is to roll that back in time.
“We have to continue to watch the budget as we move forward to make sure we can get to a point where we can roll that back. Obviously needing some additional revenue streams, I think that’s going to help. I think by doing that we’ll also show with that rollback a savings for our citizens,” he said.
The levy will generate $12.9 million for the budget, and increase of $1.2 million because of the increase in taxable value in the county.
As Finance Director Dana LaFollette pointed out, the $85.9 million figure includes interfund transfers and funding reserves. Commission Chair Diane Andrews commented on the inclusion of contingency funds to cover unexpected costs, urging departments not to use those funds unless necessary.
Breaking down the budget by expenditure type, regular expenditures from the general fund and other funds total around $25.1 million. Grants make up another $14.4 million. Interfund transfers are also budgeted as an expense totaling $25.2 million. Finally, reserve funding amounts to nearly $21.2 million.
Spending from the general fund totals $36.1 million, which includes the budgets for the county commission and manager, as well as most of the constitutional officers, building and zoning, veterans services, and the board’s contribution to library services.
Library grant funding totals more than $1.3 million, bringing the total budget to $1.73 million.
The road department’s $16.3 million budget is also heavily weighted by state grants for road work, including almost $5.1 million for C.R. 235, $2.2 million for C.R. 225 and $3.2 million for Northwest 53rd Avenue. All grant funds total nearly $10.7 million of the road department budget. It also includes $1.23 million in spending for local road work paid for by gas tax revenue.
Of the $12.6 million fine and forfeiture fund, $3.35 million is for the jail and $4.6 million is for the sheriff’s office. The remaining $4.6 million includes money for other court operating costs, but also covers the $1.2 million life and health insurance cost for the sheriff’s employees, which is not included in his operating budgets.
Bradford County Fire Rescue’s budget is nearly $9.15 million, supported by both service fees and a transfer from the county commission. The $3.55 million in projected ambulance service fees is up from nearly $2.88 million this year. The general fund transfer is increasing from $2.4 million to $3.9 million.
Next year’s budget also includes a $450,000 grant for a new fire engine and an unspent grant for more than $789,000. Obtained by the sheriff when he oversaw the fire department, the legislative allocation was originally intended to build a secondary headquarters for communications and training. Since the fire department has been consolidated with emergency medical services, Chief Ben Carter said they have requested permission to use the funds to build a new station. They are waiting on state approval.
The budget for solid waste is increasing from $1.4 million to $2.17 million. The solid waste special assessment has increased for the first time since 1987, boosting revenue from $691,000 to $1.1 million. The county also receives revenue through its partnership in the New River Solid Waste Association. A general fund transfer of $436,000 was still necessary to balance the budget. New equipment and items totaling $387,500 have been requested.
The county breaks down its spending by category as follows:
General government – $17.8M
Public safety – $13.2M
Physical environment – $3.2M
Transportation – $16.3 million
Economic environment – $6.77M
Culture/recreation – $1.85M
Human services – $705,507
Court related – $796,057
That totals nearly $60.69 million, and interdepartmental transfers bring the total to $85.9 million.
