Monroe County Commissioner Jim Scholl joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
It’s time to talk about the budget.
“We did have our first budget workshop up in Marathon, and I got to tell you, the staff from the county administrator Christine Hurley on down did a fantastic job working through a very, very complicated budget,” Scholl said.
He credited county staff with scrutinizing every department’s spending.
“They really used a fine-tooth comb to go through and eliminate anything that wasn’t essential,” he said. “It’s going to be an interesting budget year this year and leading into next year.”
A major concern is a statewide property tax reform referendum expected to appear on Florida’s November ballot. Scholl said Monroe County is preparing now for the possibility that voters could approve significant reductions in ad valorem tax revenues.
“I just think that public safety is at the top of the list of the things that we need to provide to our community,” Scholl said. “That’s where the majority of the property taxes that are collected in Monroe County go toward funding the Sheriff’s Department and Monroe County Fire Rescue.”
Although Monroe County relies less heavily on property taxes than many Florida counties, Scholl said the county still must prepare for every scenario.
“We are in a pretty good position compared to other counties whose ad valorem taxes are the majority of their revenue,” he said. “Ours is about a quarter of the revenue that we use to operate the county because we have other fees that we collect, state shared sales tax, grants and other revenue sources.”
Even so, he warned that major tax reductions would require difficult decisions.
“You can’t have a significant reduction in predictable revenue and still be able to provide the same level of service that is expected by the community,” Scholl said.
He added that while no decisions have been made, reductions in revenue could eventually affect emergency services.
“I’m not saying this would happen, but it could,” Scholl said. “You’d have to maybe close a fire station or two because we don’t have the revenue stream to cover that. I’m not saying we would want to do that, but that is a potential consequence if we couldn’t have the revenue stream to support that.”
Scholl said commissioners intend to continue pursuing Florida’s lowest county millage rate while remaining financially prepared for unexpected events.
“The tentative millage is usually a little bit higher than what the final millage rate will be, just to prepare for unforeseen circumstances like potential weather events and things that may impact the revenue stream,” he said. “There’s still a lot to go forward with, but I think the staff has done an amazing job being as frugal as possible.”
Commissioners will hold public budget hearings in September before adopting the fiscal year 2027 budget.
Scholl also discussed recent action involving the Big Pine Key and No Name Key Habitat Conservation Plan. He said Monroe County has incorporated the expiring federal habitat conservation requirements into its comprehensive plan and land development code.
“What has happened is the Habitat Conservation Plan and its companion, the Incidental Take Permit, have been incorporated into our land development code and our comprehensive plan so that we will go forward with the same level of restrictions,” Scholl explained.
He said years of conservation purchases have placed the county well ahead of federal mitigation requirements.
“We had done that so well over the years…that we are so far ahead in that bank that even with the 40 or so units that could be built there, we wouldn’t have to retire any more land,” Scholl said.
Addressing concerns raised by some residents, Scholl emphasized that environmental protections will remain in place.
“All the protections are there, and then some,” he said. “People are concerned that it will not provide the same level of protection, but it will, and then some. I think we’re in very good shape there.”
The commissioner also highlighted the county’s newly approved Residential Neighborhood Improvement Program, which allows neighborhoods in unincorporated Monroe County to request and help fund projects benefiting their communities.
“If 50 percent plus one of the residents would like to have a specific improvement like road elevation, improved stormwater, streetlights, beach renourishment or canal restoration, they can ask to have that done,” Scholl said. “We’ll figure out how to support that, but there will be a revenue stream for the initial work done and perhaps a revenue stream for operations and maintenance.”
Scholl also addressed ongoing tensions in the Middle East, noting his experience as a former commander of Naval Air Station Key West.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a very important choke point, but under international law it cannot be shut down,” he said. “They’re playing the game of trying to disrupt the world’s economy just to have more influence on what’s trying to be done.”
He said disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could affect global commerce because of the volume of oil, natural gas and shipping traffic moving through those waterways.
“It’s a difficult situation to be in,” Scholl said. “Hopefully diplomacy and the right persuasion will work to get a peaceful end to everything that’s going on and preserve the world’s economy.”
Scholl reminded residents of the upcoming election and that several local races will effectively be decided.
“There’s only 32 days to go before the August election,” he said. “A lot of people have it in mind that, well, it’s a primary. Well, it is for certain races, but it will be the deciding election for at least five of our local races here in the Keys.”
Scholl encouraged all eligible voters to participate regardless of party affiliation.
“It’s very important that people don’t just ignore this election because, well, I’m a Republican, I’m a Democrat, I’m an Independent, so I can’t vote because it’s a primary.’ That’s just not true,” he said. “People need to show up and vote…and elect good people to these positions.”