How is the Budget Adopted?

The budget process begins in January. The Board of County Commissioners reviews budget details at July work sessions, which the public is encouraged to attend. After changes and amendments, the budget is adopted at public hearings in September.

The Lake County budget has 47 individual funds. A fund is a separate, self-balancing set of accounts divided according to function or some legal restriction. Typical accounts are salaries, office supplies and equipment. The General Fund, with a $135,995,100 budget, is the largest of the funds.

The other 46 funds receive monies set aside for specific functions. One example is the E-911 fund, which uses the 50 cents from each local phone bill to pay for related expenses.

The Lake County School Board is a separate taxing entity and levies a separate property tax rate to fund school operations. Other separate taxing entities include Lake County’s 14 municipalities, Oklawaha Basin Recreation & Water Conservation & Control Authority, St. Johns River Water Management District and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Tax Facts

Approximately 76 percent of every general fund dollar is from property taxes. This, along with other local, state and federal dollars, provides general-fund funding.

A "property tax" is also known as an "ad valorem tax,” and is based on the assessed value of the property. The ad valorem tax rate is expressed as a "mill,” which is equal to $0.001. The "millage rate" is the rate at which the tax is charged. Lake County levies three ad valorem taxes: (1) Countywide: 5.797 mills; (2) Lake County Ambulance District: 0.5289 mills; and (3) Stormwater Management for unincorporated: 0.5 mills.

The homeowner of a $100,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $511.94 per year with the above three millages imposed by Lake County.

What other Revenue does Lake County Receive?

Gas Taxes: Used to maintain and build roads, bridges and sidewalks. In Lake County, each gallon is taxed a total of 47.3 cents. The federal share is 18.4 cents, state share is 21.9 cents and the County imposes 7 cents.

Sales Tax: Lake County’s sales tax is 7 percent. Of the first 6 cents, the state receives 5.5 cents and the County’s share is one-half cent, which goes to general fund operations. Lake County voters approved an additional 1 cent to fund infrastructure.

Other revenues include federal and state grants, state shared revenues, fees, fines, licenses and other charges, such as those for fire and solid waste services.

How Can I Get Involved?

To get involved in the budget process, citizens can attend Commission meetings and review the meeting agenda before attending.

Interested individuals can also attend budget workshops. Several are held each year in June or July to review departmental and citizen requests. Specific dates and times are announced in the spring.

In addition, residents can attend public budget hearings. For more information, call the Lake County Office of Budget at (352) 343-9490

Other ways citizens can become more involved with the budgeting process is to participate in the Lake County Citizens’ Academy or become a member of one of the County’s citizen advisory boards and committees.