For 2014, Smith will earn $133,921, the same amount she earned in 2013, according to officials at her office. According to the State Department of Revenue, which has the legal authority to approve the budgets of all Florida real estate appraisers, Smith turned down a $5,078 raise for next year.
Marion County Real Estate Appraiser Refuses a Raise
County Commissioner Carl Zalak said that in light of the increase, he plans to increase his charitable giving. Sheriff Chris Blair, the highest-paid elected official in Marion County Property Appraiser, whose Oct. 1 salary increase of $5,313 was the highest among local officials, said he would take the money but had other intentions.
Salary increases have been hard to come by for most county employees in recent years as the recession has hit earnings and the county commission, which legally controls the budgets of county elected officials, has been reluctant to raise salaries.
In fiscal 2007, the real estate appraisal office was financed in the amount of US$5.1 million. For the 2013 fiscal year ended September 30, the budget was $3.5 million, down 31%. Public records show that the Treasury Department told the commission that Smith would miss next year’s raise on September 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. The district committee will consider amending the rules governing the account on November 5th to allow you to make a donation. This can no longer be done based on the current language, which limits fund income to earnings from vending machines located on county properties.