The Ponte Vedra Beach Municipal Service District (MSD) Board of Trustees voted 5-0 last Wednesday, Sept. 19 to approve its final millage rate and adopt its budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019.
The MSD’s rolled-back millage rate is 0.326, and the final adopted millage rate is 0.375, exceeding the rolled-back rate for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by 3.42 percent.
The MSD’s total budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 is $898,800, with total revenues and balances and total appropriated expenditures and reserves balancing each other out.
The approved budget shows that the MSD is expecting to receive $694,000 in ad valorem taxes. Estimated interest of $3,800, a cash balance of $201,000 and the tax dollars bring the total revenue and balances for the MSD to $898,800.
Law enforcement and sanitation represent the most expensive line items on the budget, with $323,000 allocated for the additional services of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) and $190,920 allocated for Republic Services. The MSD contracts SJSO to designate five deputies specifically to patrolling the MSD. In addition, the MSD contracts Republic to provide the district with an extra garbage pickup and side door pickup, which are not privileges afforded to the rest of St. Johns County.
The budget shows that $115,000 is allocated for reserves in October and November, when the MSD is waiting to receive its ad valorem tax dollars, which typically come in at the end of December or early January. $45,000 is allocated for an Emergency Clean Up Fund, and $73,800 is allocated for Current Year Contingency Reserves.
Another line item of note is $10,000 for code enforcement services, which the MSD trustees have been discussing at recent meetings. The hope is for a county code enforcement officer to consistently take a trip to the MSD to check on certain issues and complaints. This initiative, however, has not yet been confirmed. In addition, $34,000 is allocated for street lights and a combined total of $19,600 is allocated for landscaping services and beautification.
Other items on the budget include several administrative services, such as the MSD’s website, annual newsletter and office supplies, as well as support services like the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser. The board is allocating an additional $3,000 this coming year for its office (from $3,000 to $6,000) as the trustees are anticipating a move from their current space in the County Courthouse Annex, which has been purchased by the PGA Tour for its new headquarters.
Total appropriated expenditures and reserves amount to $898,000.
To view the entire approved budget, visit http://www.pvmsd.org/WP/ and click on Financials.
