GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Board of County Commissioners has approved its budget for the fiscal 2020-21 year.

The BCC approved its proposed operating millage rate of 8.101. It was approved with a 5-0 vote, with commissioner Wayne Bolla voting virtually.

“The fiscal year aggregate millage rate is 7.8589 which is more than your aggregate rolled back rate of 7.4459 by 5.55%,” county manager Howard Wanamaker said.

Wanamaker’s 7.8589 rate doesn’t include the .5048 mills assigned to Fire Control. When you add 7.8589 and .5048, you get 8.101, which was last year’s millage rate. The millage rate has been 8.101 since 2014.

The rolled back rate is the rate the county would need to approve as a millage rate in order for taxes to remain the same as the previous year. Last year’s millage rate was 8.101, which is the same as this year’s approved rate, but the reason taxpayers will be paying slightly more in taxes this year stems not from the millage rate but from property values.

The millage rate is a tax on property value, so when property value rises, so too does the tax paid as a result of the millage rate. The BCC would have had to approve a rate of 7.4459, or 7.4459 plus .5048 mills for a total of 7.9507, for taxes to remain the same as they were last year. The approved final rate for fiscal year 2020-21 is equal to last year’s final millage rate but taxes will be likely slightly higher as a result of rising property values.

The operating millage breaks down into 5.3021 mills for county services, .1110 for the unincorporated services fund, 2.1831 for the law enforcement fund, and .5048 mills for fire control. It also includes zero mills for the Lake Asbury MSBD and three mills for the Challenge Roadway fund separately.

The BCC approved all three budget-related motions unanimously during its Tuesday, Sept. 22, meeting.

In other business, CARES Act administrator Troy Nagle said the county has processed about 60% of the applications for individuals and businesses, and he said the county is working through the rest.

Emergency Management director John Ward told the BCC Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a release for additional funding and that $7 million is on the way to the county. Ward said he’s asked state officials where the other $21 million for CARES Act reimbursement is in terms of processing.

The BCC will hold a special meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 29., regarding the purchase of buildings for a new health department facility, emergency supplies warehouse and a business incubator.