BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Commissioner Danny Riddick was encouraged not to give up working for a youth recreation program even if it was unclear the county would be able to make a full financial commitment in its 2026 budget.
Riddick is leading the charge for many who want to see a countywide cooperative organization for youth sports that would provide recreation and build character in young people, allow them to play with friends from their own community, and encourage tourism from other communities.
Proposed is a $150,000 commitment each from Bradford County, the city of Starke and the Tourist Development Council, for a total year one budget of $450,000. TDC’s contribution would be used to improve park infrastructure, while the city and county funding would pay for operations, including hiring a program manager and assistant. After two years, Riddick said the program should be self-sufficient.
Riddick’s “Bradford Sports United” presentation went over well with city commissioners. Given just an hour before the county commission was scheduled to meet, Starke commissioners voted unanimously June 17 to support a joint recreation program, committing funds they already had in their budget.
While county commissioners are fully supportive of combining forces, there is the matter of funding. Talk of a new program is moving quickly when there are issues the county commission hasn’t finalized, including the special assessment for fire and reducing property taxes.
Riddick showed up thinking he had surmounted this obstacle by pointing out new tax revenue from development and increasing property values, investment revenue from bank deposits, and savings on solid waste since the garbage assessment was increased and dumping from out of county was prohibited. Riddick said he couldn’t find $150,000 within the budget by cutting expenses, but according to him, but he calculated more than $3 million in new revenue.
“As you can see from the money we’ve got invested, the money we got coming in next year, the county is not broke. We’re not broke. I mean, we’re in the black this year, we’re going to be in the black next year. The county is definitely not broke,” he said.
Sheriff Gordon Smith said with funding increases from the state and city of Starke, there may be savings for the county in his spending that could go toward recreation as well.
Chief Deputy Clerk Rachel Rhoden shared a different perspective on finances. The fire assessment, for example, will only cover about 50% of the fire department budget, which continues to grow. In addition to new firefighters and a new station approved for Brooker, commissioners have also expanded the workforce in the road department. And despite what it might look like, the solid waste department is being balanced with its reserve funding, which will be depleted within two years, she said. After that, solid waste will have a half-million-dollar deficit.
Other expenses such as health insurance are increasing. That alone is a $1.5 million addition to the next budget, Rhoden said. Between increases in recurring costs and new expenses the board has added, she said any new revenue has already been spent.
Commissioner Chris Dougherty said he thought the search for funding would come from budget cuts, whether its cutting services to citizens or benefits like health insurance for employees. That means getting more calls about mowing ditches, grading roads and long response times for emergency services, he said.
Riddick expressed disappointment but said he would not beat the issue to death.
“Anyway, y’all can bring it back up again if you want. I won’t bring it back up again. That’s it. I’ll let it go,” he said.
Dougherty said not to dismiss the issue so quickly.
“Like I said, there’s work to be done. We just have to do that work,” Dougherty said, but Riddick was convinced if the plan wasn’t approved for the next budget year, then approval would be years down the road. He said he would be willing to take another look when department budgets are submitted.
“I think that that is something that we should do,” Commissioner Diane Andrews said. “I definitely don’t want to take this off the agenda and never talk about it again, because I feel strongly about us being a part of this and doing this. But I think that we need to give people an opportunity to look and see where they can cut, see what we can come up with that won’t cost us anymore, but yet it will be funding for (recreation).”
“We have to change our culture and how we think,” Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said. “We have to think outside of the box. And recreation is important, but we have to figure out a way to do it within our existing budget without depleting our contingency funds. And I think something could be worked out, but it’s not done.”
County Manager Scott Kornegay said they would look for cuts prior to the commission’s budget workshop, scheduled for July 1.
Waiting list for rental assistance
Union County Housing Authority has an open waiting list for eligible low-income families, elderly individuals and persons with disabilities who need housing assistance. Eligibility is determined based on annual income, family composition, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. Contact UCHA at 715 W. Main St. in Lake Butler, 386-496-2047, or www.uchafl.com.
