Does Hernando County Government have an income problem or a spending problem? I have noticed that in the last 3-5 years, my disposable income has gotten smaller every year. Our Commissioners claim that they have been providing relief in the form of a millage rate reduction. The story behind the story is the county reserves were being depleted prior to 2019 in order to make up for over spending, so the millage rate was increased in order to replenish those reserves. Any reduction from the increased rate is just now starting to bring taxpayers back to the rate that we were previously paying. Hernando County is growing and there is inflation to contend with. Fire fees and water and sewer connection fees have been raised. Proposals are being entertained to raise impact fees, water and sewer rates, garbage ad valorem tax, a one-cent sales tax referendum for 30 years, a renewal of the half-cent school sales tax, and the list goes on. So what is the solution? Budgets need to be turned upside down and wants vs needs prioritized. $650M in projects financed by the one-cent sales tax need to be examined for merit and prioritized. Voters and taxpayers need to be engaged. This is an election year. Three commissioners, a host of constitutional officers and school board members are up for election.
— Mike Fulford
