Fiscal Responsibility Leads to Budget Reductions
Fiscal responsibility is not just necessary when times are tough, revenues are low and budgets strained. A true trustee of the public’s hard-earned money is fiscally responsible even when the going is good, like when property tax revenue soared during Palm Beach County’s real estate boom. The Clerk & Comptroller is committed to protecting your tax dollars, in good times and in bad. The office’s conservative approach to spending has allowed it to slash the County-funded portion of our budget for two consecutive years—the only constitutional officer to do so. The Clerk’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 is $16.6 million, a reduction of 7.5 percent or $1.3 million since 2007.
It’s important to note, that while other budgets skyrocketed during the height of the building boom, ours stayed steady. In fact, during that time period, the Clerk’s office practically paid for itself. While our office receives some of your tax dollars, it is primarily funded by the fees paid when someone files a court case or official record. At the peak of mortgage and deed filings in 2005 and 2006, we were able to put more than $26 million back into county coffers, covering a large portion of our expenses. Even now, when revenue from filing fees has declined, we are promising to give the Board of County Commissioners $2.5 million. That money means fewer programs will need to be cut.
Fiscal responsibility requires taking a close look at your organization, scrutinizing your processes and justifying every expense. That’s what the Clerk’s office does every day—and not just when money is in short supply. Read more about how the Clerk’s office is saving you money.