A budget battle in Hernando County is brewing between the sheriff’s office and other county leaders, one that could mean changes to residents' tax bills.

  • New ordinance would create Municipal Service Taxing Unit
  • 4 percent of current 6.9 percent property tax rate would go to sheriff's office
  • Sheriff believes tax burden should not be solely on property owners

County Commissioner Wayne Dukes has added an ordinance to the county's agenda that would establish a Municipal Service Taxing Unit, or MSTU, for law enforcement.

The MSTU would push about four percent of the county's current 6.9 percent property tax rate to the Sheriff's Office. That percentage comes out to about $30 million a year.

“At that point [Sheriff Neinhuis] could do with it whatever he thinks is right," said Dukes. "He can hire, he can buy equipment, it's really up to him, we're going to let him control his own destiny."

The idea for the ordinance is not a new one. In fact, the commission has introduced it three times over the past few years. Sheriff Al Neinhuis, however, believes the funding should come from elsewhere.

“I really don't think that's fair," said Neinhuis. "I think the people that are here visiting, paying sales tax and things like that should help fund the sheriff's office. It shouldn't just go on property owners.”

Including the $30 million from the MSTU, Neinhuis's office is set to receive close to $43 million for the 2017 budget. The county says the other $10-12 million would come out of the county's general fund.

“It's going to cause a tremendous amount of administrative cost for us, because now we're not going to be funded just out of this new tax, we're going to be funded partially the old way, and partially the new way, which is going to be very confusing for everybody," said Neinhuis.

Commissioner Dukes, however, said the new MSTU would not require additional costs or consultants. Dukes also pointed out he also plans to transfer $1.2 million to the sheriff’s budget to resolve Sheriff Neinhuis’ appeal from earlier in the year, after he was denied an increase.

“What we're also going to do is give him $1.2 million next Tuesday to carry on with, put him where he thought he should be," said Dukes.

 Neinhuis said he wasn’t aware his office would be receiving that additional funding.

The first reading of the ordinance will be at the regular commission meeting March 28 at 9:00 a.m. If the ordinance is passed, the MSTU will go into effect in October.