[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6520359,"mediaKeyId","5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e","parentId",5332805,"title","Clay County staff propose $6.2M in next-year reductions, but reserves, courts and fire needs leave a multi-million shortfall","audioSeconds",657,"startMs",2689000,"endMs",3346000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e&start=2689&end=3346","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e/thumbnail_2689000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520359/Clay-County/Florida/Clay-County-staff-propose-62M-in-next-year-reductions-but-reserves-courts-and-fire-needs-leave-a-multi-million-shortfall","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520359-cddece37425ed18f269ec771b3cb37a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572774&Signature=VO0AkAoFqqsr~AkKrXik5eoVKSko7XFr8YGMep5RudwPd4qGf~-0RpasIBvtbDRCiZ5B0dvNTOk585dRzkIYqdpzpsBpKnZIc5iY6vv~Cl7vCZvQ4D7AvF6fZxpdKHiKljzFBeLB8fDz8aGkrwjAZq5BCWbIzUeqygh04JLAXC3lBx4GXdo9tj2XgyBFjhGim3txR2VwcPwBa8Tuibv8BpTk7lU~qKAHotrODafctVhg-sacVGlrIfZb9sen7jFxZ2o5x3vVPNNzsWmP7pWFAa8AU09qcIeGBKwaNrYbwABLggw4~HFQpedmyy3EfchojC00HvfJp9ya4Z8yTBD0yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clay County","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","At the July 8 workshop the county's budget team and department heads presented a package of proposed reductions to balance next year's budget and to meet a 16.7 percent general-fund reserve target. Troy Nagle told the board staff identified roughly $6.2 million in next-year project reductions and about $2.4 million in reductions from the current adopted budget that could be deferred or removed.

Despite those cuts, staff said the board remained about $3.9 million short of the reserve target after the reductions. Unanticipated additions (court magistrate, second judge staffing, clerk support) increased the total additional need to about $4.7 million, Nagle said.

Staff proposed additional options to reach balance: eliminate 15 positions (vacancies created during a prior reorganization), postpone Doctors Lake site improvements, and reduce reserve percentages in certain restricted funds to the 3 percent level used by the sheriff's office for its reserves. The board discussed the trade-offs. The county manager and department heads said the earlier reorganization removed administrative positions and the 15 positions in question were a mix of proposed boots-on-the-ground roles (some intended for public works, engineering, facilities and grounds maintenance); commissioners sought clarity about which departments would be affected and whether public-works backlogs would worsen.

Public Works Director Eric Pope told the board the department faces both unfilled positions and unfunded projects; he said turnover in labor positions is a continuing challenge and some stormwater repairs exceed the department's in-house capacity. Commissioners pressed staff to identify which of the 15 vacancies were in which departments and whether cutting the 15 would materially reduce routine maintenance or delay stormwater fixes.

The workshop also walked through capital-improvement plan (CIP) constraints. Staff said impact fees, mobility fees and sales-tax proceeds fund CIP projects; those sources cannot be used for day-to-day operations under statutory limits. Staff warned that with projects added for public safety (sheriff vehicle needs and fire stations), the five-year CIP shows a deficit in year five (roughly $4.3 million without adjustments). Nagle said capital projects could be moved beyond the five-year planning window if revenue does not materialize.

Several specific deferred items were cited in conversation as examples of the proposed reductions: historical courthouse roof design and repair funding (~$350,000), senior center HVAC replacements (staggered replacement of 18 units), library and park lighting projects, and stormwater repairs (~$1.6 million in the next-year list). Commissioners expressed concern about repeatedly deferring maintenance that will likely cost more later.

Ending: Staff will return with detail on which positions are included in the 15-vacancy proposal, updated carryforward/capital revenue projections, and fee-schedule changes for consideration in August. Commissioners said they will continue to weigh whether to raise new revenue, realign fees/impact fees over time, or make further program and project cuts before the September tentative and final budget hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clay County - BCC Workshop Jul 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Budget staff presented proposed project and current-year reductions and a list of options including eliminating 15 vacant positions; commissioners and department heads debated the operational impacts, particularly for public works and stormwater.","taxTitle","Clay County, Florida","taxId",12757,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520364,"Judge tells Clay County commissioners new judges, magistrate and clerk staffing will add costs",265,212000,477000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e&start=212&end=477","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e/thumbnail_212000.jpg","/articles/6520364/Clay-County/Florida/Judge-tells-Clay-County-commissioners-new-judges-magistrate-and-clerk-staffing-will-add-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520364-d869bc03463c4e5ca4a023b98ce5c9de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572774&Signature=j-S6tRuACj4LHJ-Y6wwhE6xG3De4rgke3eMqZu9taMOkFMeHU9ZQPLgLWNSBxZgtPwKOSwHCF~5fzreI69x51sEiE5yDc6dGBfwCuyaOJ0Ks3YxneNnw70CVTgCV9QBNhJeZrCF6cIKL2c6Ib-XTaewlLPT1Kyp71cU3GFaFQESC9B42lXn~xhhRDBm1gylw1cXtEV4ucGp7zTN0OFSYS6W8liervHbyYVq2yKA5gxtMcdYlwEHgDpjzs1pM8pWOt7mZoz~nHjytl0WY1JHC2i9tcapbkJB~UmGwg0UtHtO5l1rxmJv4i~f74NdNVDlv9AdsfZmuPZUBDUtQj~4ZfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clay County's administrative judge addressed the Board of County Commissioners at the July 8 workshop to explain a recent expansion of judicial seats and to request funding support for court operations that the judge and clerk say the state did not fully finance.

The judge said the Florida Legislature created an additional county judge seat for Clay and two new circuit seats in the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Nassau, Duval and Clay counties). The judge said a judicial nominating commission will accept applications and the governor will appoint new judges later this year. \"We are requesting an additional magistrate\" to help with family-law dockets, case management orders and Baker Act/Marchman Act proceedings, the judge told the board.

Clerk and Comptroller Tara Green and staff joined the judge in describing a funding gap: while the legislature appropriated money statewide for the new judges, clerk's offices received no dedicated funding to support the additional workload. Green told commissioners clerks are already drawing on operating and personnel budgets to maintain jury processes and forecast a shortfall for jury administration. Troy Nagle summarized the county's budget effect: adding the magistrate and additional court-related staffing contributed to the roughly $4.7 million of additional need staff identified after proposed cuts.

Commissioners asked whether the county would be legally required to seat the judges and who would bear recurring costs. County staff said the judgeships are created by the state; the county can request to assist with clerk staffing and courtroom support but the state appointment process and statutory funding decisions are separate. Staff and the judge discussed options for how to assign caseloads to avoid duplicating divisions and to limit additional simultaneous courtroom staff demands.

Ending: The board heard the judge's formal request for a magistrate and discussion about clerk funding and judicial needs. Staff said they would continue to quantify personnel and operating impacts and return with budget options the same day in later presentations and in upcoming budget hearings.","Clay County's administrative judge asked commissioners for an additional magistrate and described recent legislative additions of judicial seats; staff warned clerks received no extra funding to support new judges.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520369,"Clay County workshop sees strong public opposition as commissioners weigh utility tax increase",2409,991000,3400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e&start=991&end=3400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332805-d8c4ca94c87b29ca89df9e4e9ea1d36e/thumbnail_991000.jpg","/articles/6520369/Clay-County/Florida/Clay-County-workshop-sees-strong-public-opposition-as-commissioners-weigh-utility-tax-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520369-9e28b1eb16b6224e859058b09349d8ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770572774&Signature=EKLRTU40KMde-Uo6T4RaimirIv-NZfNM9gzKxTZZL76WgSL5rbQLmkEDvzyOPh4HMfeYX9zFHn1QJz9AVE0YA3AEQ-W6rKqp7tISC70BtoFm5EZotR6DlkbUBazWL5SZyJHXa-yE6Fc-i7uLU4oPh4375nyoo3nhQBQ5XA40u7K5k2tKi5n09ps7fNuKfVx5E01pVzdd4gfTmHTvCmk2m35MZXhV4YG~Efo1nFnrV51L8u7mVs8Qa2J4tK18SQ42dZ4hT86H~my~ATw23n2qajXjibH2reuu1NAisme9~obiYwLv~WC6nLfRpumaj2hvTpWdGJWm3TA~CI9QOqBsWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a July 8 Clay County Board of County Commissioners workshop, residents urged commissioners to reject a proposed raise in the county's utility service tax or to narrow its scope, saying the increase would hit seniors and lower-income households hardest. County staff presented revenue estimates and said the proposal would appear on the board's agenda for a vote later that day at 5 p.m.

Many public commenters described fixed incomes and rising household costs and asked the board to designate any new revenue specifically for public safety instead of leaving the funds undesignated. Kenneth Remson, a retired math teacher, told the board, \"a utility tax like this is a regressive tax, meaning that it's a tax that, basically lower income people pay a higher percentage of their overall income too.\" Other speakers called for alternatives, questioned why new development and property taxes could not cover the shortfall, and asked for more detail on how existing revenues have been spent.

The county's budget staff, led in the workshop by Troy Nagle, presented current collection figures and modeled outcomes under different rates. Nagle said the county presently collects about $4.6 million to $4.9 million annually at the current 4 percent rate and estimated that raising the rate to 6 percent (the example frequently discussed at the workshop) would increase total annual collections to roughly $7.4 million, adding about $2.4 million in new revenue. A smaller 2-percentage-point increase would yield about $2.0 million to $2.4 million, staff said. Because of statutory timing requirements the county would not begin collecting a voter-authorized change immediately; staff noted a January effective date would yield roughly 75 percent of the modeled revenue in the first year.

Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed the utility tax as one tool among several under consideration to close a remaining operating shortfall in the general fund. At the workshop staff reported roughly $3.9 million remained after an initial round of proposed reductions; adding court and clerk staffing requests and other new items raised the total additional need to about $4.7 million. Commissioners stressed they were still weighing choices between revenue options (including fees and impact/mobility fees studies) and further spending cuts before the final budget adoption in September.

Several speakers asked why the tax would apply to unincorporated areas while cities already impose their own utility taxes. Staff explained that because Clay County is a charter county it has authority to levy a utility service tax for unincorporated areas and that some municipalities within the county already assess their own utility taxes; the county cannot legally impose the county's utility service tax inside those municipalities.

The motion to place a utility-service-tax increase on the board's agenda for the July 8 5 p.m. public hearing was reflected in the workshop discussion. Commissioners clarified the item would be considered at the 5 p.m. meeting and, if adopted, changes would be implemented in January to meet statutory notice windows.

Staff said they will bring a fee-schedule review to the board in August and continue to identify additional budget adjustments ahead of the September tentative and final budget hearings.

Ending: The workshop closed with commissioners divided on the utility-tax approach; some said they would prefer to find further cuts or alternate revenue sources, while others emphasized funding public safety. The utility-service-tax increase was listed on the board's 5 p.m. agenda the same day for formal action.","Residents urged commissioners to reject or limit a proposed increase to the county's utility service tax while staff outlined revenue estimates and a vote was scheduled later the same day.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Clay County staff propose $6.2M in next-year reductions, but reserves, courts and fire needs leave a multi-million shortfall

Judge tells Clay County commissioners new judges, magistrate and clerk staffing will add costs

Clay County workshop sees strong public opposition as commissioners weigh utility tax increase