The article below was taken from WFTV Channel 9 in Orlando.
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June 4, 2012
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —
City officials said that property values in Mascotte have tanked, and most Lake County cities saw a 4 to 6 percent drop.
Mascotte's property values tumbled18 percent, and city leaders said they will start looking for ways to make up for the budget shortfall.
Nearly every home in Mascotte is barely worth what it could fetch in 2004, and that will cost the city plenty, officials said.
"To our budget, you're probably looking at about $395,000," said city manager Jim Gleason.
That's how much less Gleason will have to work with to balance the city's $2.7 million spending plan. The financial slide has lasted four years, and officials said most departments have already been cutting as much as possible.
Now, a few more jobs are about to go.
"We've got some personnel cuts through attrition, so we'll save some money, about $61,000 in the enterprise fund," said Gleason.
Gleason said he cannot propose cuts in either police or fire departments, even if he wanted to because several positions were funded through federal grants.
"We could end up owing the federal government back over $400,000, maybe $500,000 in fire and $160,000 in police. So, I have to leave their manpower at a certain level or it costs us," Gleason said.
Gleason believes he can still keep the city of 5,000 residents above water, but it will take some tough choices.
One of the options council will look at is a $5 per month hike in the fire service fee to every home.
Gleason said the increase would raise $120,000.
Currently, Mascotte residents pay $60 a year.
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The link below will take you to WFTV's website which contains the video of the story:
The link below will take you to WFTV's website which contains the video of the story:
