Budget Preparation and Limitations
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a fiscal policy of the Board of County Commissioners (“BOCC”) that will restrict future growth in the areas of the proposed annual Budget that are primarily funded with ad valorem taxes.
Policy
It is the policy of the BOCC that, commencing with the preparation of the proposed annual Budget for the 2008 Fiscal Year and each fiscal year thereafter, in preparing the annual budget for submission to the BOCC, the County’s Budget Officer shall insure that, except as otherwise directed by this policy, the proposed amounts budgeted for the Countywide General Fund and the Unincorporated Area General Fund do not exceed the amount budgeted for each of the respective funds in the adopted annual budget for the prior fiscal year plus amounts for inflation and population growth based upon price and population indices adopted by the County’s Budget Officer. With respect to the preparation of the proposed annual Budget for the 2008 Fiscal Year, the adopted annual budget for the prior fiscal year shall mean the adopted annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2007 as amended as of the approval of this policy by the BOCC.
The limitation provided in this policy, shall not apply to the proposed amounts to be budgeted for each of the respective funds for: mandates imposed by the State of Florida or the Federal Government; funding directly provided to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector; or funding necessary to satisfy all contractual obligations and commitments approved by the BOCC prior to the approval of this policy by the BOCC.
Any deviation or amendment to this policy shall require a supermajority vote of the BOCC after a duly noticed public hearing prior to consideration of such deviation or amendment.