Monroe County commissioners unanimously approved a $690 million budget for the coming fiscal year, with $18 million more in spending than last year.
County officials stressed at the final budget hearing in Key West on Sept. 14 that the increased spending takes into account required pay bumps for first responders, including road patrol deputies, EMS and firefighters who are part of collective bargaining units.
“I’m not willing to skimp on possibilities of lives lost because we haven’t properly funded public safety,” said Commissioner Holly Raschein. “That is the crux of it (the spending increase), making sure we’re paying men and women in law enforcement and fire rescue properly so we can keep them here.”
As part of negotiations, unionized Monroe County Fire Rescue members will receive a cost-of-living raise of 8.3%, while unionized Monroe County Sheriff’s Office employees will get a 10% pay hike.
Employees of the board of county commissioners, constitutional officers and nonunionized sheriff’s office employees will get a 2.7% cost-of-living raise. The total dollar figure associated with the cost of living adjustments is $9.4 million.
County officials say the spending plan also includes funding to replace fire trucks, upgrade ambulances and provide needed EMS operational equipment. There are also various maintenance projects needed at the Monroe County Detention Center, including spalling, window, kitchen and plumbing repairs.
“This budget reflects our unwavering commitment to public safety and core responsibilities that keep our island communities safe and accessible,” Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley stated in a press release. “Monroe County continues to meet the extraordinary demands of serving our 84,000 residents, and a functional population of approximately 160,000, that includes our 4 million visitors a year.”
The approved budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, also includes the Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s plan to spend an additional $29 million from the previous year, using non-ad valorem money from its accrued fund balance on capital projects, events and advertising in the coming year. The TDC is seeking to spend $115.3 million in the coming fiscal year with revenue from the bed tax.
A total of $377.3 million of the budget would fund county operations and the offices of constitutional officers. Spending for capital projects and debt service totals $139.5 million. The remaining $58.3 million in spending goes toward budgeted transfers, reserves and cash balance.
County commissioners elected to maintain the same countywide millage rate from last year of 2.6929, or $269 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value. It would generate $143 million in property tax revenue. The countywide millage rate funds services in unincorporated Monroe and the municipalities. The services include the sheriff’s office, maintenance of corrections facilities, Trauma Star, the offices of constitutional officers and the county health department.
There’s a separate millage to fund Keyswide services for county parks and beaches, recreation, as well as the departments for planning and resources and code compliance. The .01756 millage would generate $4.6 million.
There’s also a millage to fund road patrol in unincorporated Monroe County. The approved millage of 0.2963 would generate $7.72 million. A separate taxing district for Middle and Lower Keys fire and ambulance service would raise just over $25 million by levying a millage of 2.1538.
In total, the county would bring in $180.6 million in property tax revenue to fund the various county operations.
John Quinn, county finance director, said a homesteaded property with average taxable value of $665,000 would pay just under $1,800 a year on the county property tax portion of their bills. It’s a year-over-year increase of $51. The tax bill for nonhomesteaded property, which receives no homestead exemption, valued at $1.1 million would be $270 more than last year. As for commercial properties valued at $1.6 million, the tax bill will increase by $400 from the prior year.
Key Largo pet store owner Robbie Majeska asked county commissioners during a Sept. 9 public hearing why they couldn’t spend the same amount of money compared to last year. He said there are ways for the county to spend less.
“Give this new county administrator the opportunity to consolidate positions and join together places,” said the owner of Keys Kritters.
Last year, the county cut 38 full-time positions. If the cuts didn’t happen, Quinn said, the county would have faced $26 million in expenses this budget cycle. This year, the county cut six full-time positions, with three in the building department and three within emergency services, for a $400,000 savings. The cuts to emergency services don’t affect public safety, county officials say.
