According to her office officials, Smith will earn $133,921 in 2014, the same amount she earned in 2013. However, according to the State Department of Revenue, which has the legal authority to approve the budgets of all Florida Marion County Property Appraisers, Smith turned down a $5,078 raise for next year.
Marion County Property Appraiser Refuses a Raise
County Commissioner Carl Zalak said that he plans to increase his charitable giving in light of the increase. Sheriff Chris Blair, the highest-paid elected official in Marion County, whose October 1 salary increase of $5,313 was the highest among local officials, said he would take the money but had other intentions.
In recent years, salary increases have been hard to come by for most county employees. The recession hit earnings, and the county commission, which legally controls the budgets of county elected officials, has been reluctant to raise the real estate appraisal office, which was financed with US$5.1 million in fiscal 2007. For the financial year finishing on September 30, 2013, the budget was $3.5 million, representing a 31% decrease compared to the previous year. Public records show that the Treasury Department told the commission on September 26 that Smith would miss next year’s RA 26.
On October 1, Commissioner Moore announced at the board meeting that he would also not accept the additional compensation he would receive this year. Moore would receive a salary increase of $2,893 in 2014, with commissioners’ salaries rising to $78,519 in the new fiscal year, up 3.8% from the $75,626 paid in 2013.
Moore promised to donate his raise to the Employee Morale Fund in monthly increments until county employees also receive raises. It’s about $241 a month. On November 5, the district committee will consider amending the account rules to allow you to donate. This can no longer be done based on the current language, which limits fund income to earnings from vending machines located on county properties.