GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While the Board of County Commissioners hope to keep the millage rate at 8.101, it agreed to set a maximum rate of 9.333 for the 2019-20 fiscal year which could give Sheriff …
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GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While the Board of County Commissioners hope to keep the millage rate at 8.101, it agreed to set a maximum rate of 9.333 for the 2019-20 fiscal year which could give Sheriff Darryl Daniels room to negotiate for a $10.2 million budget increase.
The final rate will be set after next year’s budget is presented in a couple months. If it’s not raised enough to support Daniel’s request, the sheriff can ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to override the commission to determine how much residents will pay in property tax next year.
“I move to set the top of the millage to 9.333,” BCC member Wayne Bolla said. “At the end of the day, though, I’m not voting that [9.333 millage rate] unless the governor overrules.”
The millage rate was passed with a 4-1 vote, with BCC member Gavin Rollins dissenting.
The higher ceiling allows for the BCC and sheriff to find common ground.
“If we do that [lock in the rate at 8.101], Daniels might appeal to get the money he’s asking for,” BCC Chairman Mike Cella said. “So, we set it to 9.333 which gives him some room for negotiation.”
At 9.333, Daniels can potentially rework his budget to fit within the confines of the 9.333 millage. His current proposed budget would require the millage to be raised by one mill, and that doesn’t include other departments who’ve submitted their budgets.
If the BCC kept the millage at 8.101, Daniels would still receive additional funds for his budget, Rollins said, but he wouldn’t receive the full $10.2 million.
“He’d still be receiving a few extra million,” Rollins said.
Daniels, who wasn’t at the meeting Tuesday night, asked for extra money to hire deputies and other employees to keep pace with the county’s projected growth for the next 10 years.
Bolla, along with the rest of the board, said they hope the wiggle room between 8.101 and 9.333 will allow both sides to find a resolution.
Commissioners urged voters not to worry about the millage since negotiations still could result in a lower millage rate.
“Our goal is to have a millage rate of 8.101,” Cella said. “We’ll see if that happens in the coming weeks but that’s our goal.”
The BCC originally said Daniels doesn’t need an extra $10.2 million, citing a lack of information. During the July 23 meeting, Daniels provided more information with a PowerPoint presentation.
“He compares [Clay County] to St. Johns and said St. Johns’ crime is down 60% and he said that’s because of tech [during his budget presentation],” Bolla said. “But, in his budget, he’s only asking for $100,000 for tech and that doesn’t add up.”
Commissioner Diane Hutchings said Daniels wants more money to hire additional officers so that the Clay County Sheriff’s Office can reach the state officer-to-citizen ratio, but according to Hutchings, Clay County has less crime than the state average, which would mean the county doesn’t necessarily need to maintain the same officer-to-citizen ratio as the state.
“The sky is not falling, and our men and women are doing an outstanding job,” Hutchings said.
Commissioner Gayward Hendry said the budget is simply too costly.
“The budget is flat-out too much,” Hendry said. “I don’t think the need is as great as he’s made it out to be.”
Despite their disagreement with Daniels’ $10.2 million increase request, the BCC agreed that Daniels could use some extra money – they just don’t think he needs a 15% increase.
Cella said he’s not comfortable adding the additional mill for the sheriff’s office during the same year residents are already paying an additional mill to fund the Clay County School Board’s new police department and other security measures.
“We can’t make our constituents pay for all of that, and in the same year no less,” Cella said. “That’s not fair to the taxpayers.”
Daniels’ budget has not been denied or approved. By setting the maximum millage rate at 9.333, it’s now up to Daniels to either renegotiate his budget or appeal to the governor.