WAKULLA COUNTY, FL (WTXL) — Wakulla County commissioners voted Tuesday on a tentative millage rate, budget, and fees ahead of a final vote later this month.
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The proposed millage rate of 7.7 mills was set. The county also voted on a proposed budget of about $245 million. While the millage rate cannot go higher following Tuesday's vote, the budget still can.
State Attorney Jack Campbell attended the meeting to request that the county increase its portion of the IT fee, saying the current amount represented a cut to his office.
"What concerns me is that the tentative budget that staff has brought to you is actually a cut. I can't sustain such a cut. Your criminal justice system cannot sustain such a cut," Campbell said.
Commissioners voted at the end of the meeting to include the fee in the budget, but said court representatives will have to return to justify the approval to commissioners.
Fire and solid waste fees were also voted on and passed. Commissioner Valerie Russell opposed the increase to the fire fee, saying she wanted to ensure all options had been explored before raising costs for taxpayers.
"It's not about public safety at all. 100% on board with that. I just I feel like we just need to. I just wanted to make sure we exhausted every option before we put the burden on the taxpayer end of story," Russell said.
The fire assessment fee for residential property owners was set at $277. The solid waste fee was set at $214.
Neighbor Michael Dilger spoke at the meeting, expressing concern over his tax bill. After the meeting, he said he wants accountability and oversight in how the county spends its money.
"I want them to go over and actually agree on how they're going to spend it. You know, not have one person say no and one person say yes. Say all come to some sort of agreement so they don't waste it," Dilger said.
The final vote on the budget and millage will go before the board at the Sept. 21 meeting.
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