Marion County commissioners adopted a $691 million budget Thursday for the coming fiscal year. That figure includes the countywide budget of $480.8 million and another $210.1 million for non-countywide entities.
Commissioners also approved a reduced countywide millage rate of 3.98 for each $1,000 of taxable property value. The current millage rate of 4.02 remains through Sept. 30.
The millage rate funds the county’s general fund, which includes:
- Parks and Recreation, Public Library System, Fleet Management, Animal Services, Veterans Services and others.
- Emergency medical transport provided by Marion County Fire Rescue.
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office jail administration and emergency operations.
- Constitutional offices (Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector).
- Courts and criminal justice (court administration technology, Guardian Ad Litem technology, public defender technology, drug and teen courts).
- Reserves for natural disasters and emergencies.
- Partner agencies (The Centers, Inc., Marion Senior Services/Transit, Heart of Florida Health Center, Early Learning Coalition, and others).
The millage rate also funds the county’s fine and forfeiture program (overseen by the sheriff’s office, with some portions overseen by the clerk of the court and state attorney’s office); and the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (a state-county funding partnership).
The 2018-19 millage rate for the Municipal Service Taxing Unit for law enforcement will increase to 3.72 from 3.47. This MSTU is applied to properties in the unincorporated areas of the county that receive sheriff patrol services.
All other non-countywide millage rates will remain at their current levels, including the MSTUs for Hills of Ocala, Marion Oaks, Rainbow Lakes Estates and Silver Springs Shores, as well as the MSTU for the fire department and EMS, which is 0.77. The special assessment rates for solid waste and stormwater also remained at the same levels.
Those wishing to view countywide budget documents can go to www.marioncountyclerk.org/boardofcountycommissionersbudget.