OKEECHOBEE – The cost of running Okeechobee County is going up, according to the budget report given by County Administrator Deborah Manzo at the May 11 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission.

Some budget increases are due to recent changes by the Florida Legislature. The Florida Retirement System increase will mean Okeechobee County will pay $730,000 more than previous year.
FPL estimates a 10% increase due to the increased fuel costs and hurricane damages. For Okeechobee County government, that’s an expected increase of about $100,000 in FPL bills. Security and cyber protection will cost about $24,000. Paying off the Medrano claim will cost the county $300,000 per year for four years. Becker consulting lobbying will add $30,000 to the county’s expenses.

Manzo said the county has been having difficulty hiring employees at a starting pay of $13/hour because a lot of businesses have moved to $15/hour. The 2023/2024 county budget will increase the pay for all county employees by $2/hour to bring the minimum pay to $15/hour. That increase will add $470,000 for full time employees and $60,000 for part time. In addition, merit increases will be given based on evaluations.

The Fire Rescue Union contract includes a 7.5% increase and a 3% step increase for those salaries.

Insurance costs are rising. Health insurance costs are up 7%. Worker’s comp insurance is up 2%. Property and casualty insurance costs will go up 25%.

Adding new employees will also add to the county’s expenses. New positions proposed include capital improvement coordinator (primarily to handle grants), a sports complex supervisor, a summer camp counselor, line service technician at the airport, administrative/commissioner aide and HVAC maintenance technician. In addition, some positions will be reclassified and some part-time positions will become full-time.

Capital Outlay expenses include sheriff’s office radios, emergency management radios, softball field rehabilitation, water fountain and bleachers at Kiwanis Park, sports complex pool resurfacing, sports complex bleachers, tables and chairs for the Extension Office, a computer for senior services, drains in the horse barns at the Agri-Civic Center, a fence around the south parking lot pond at the agri-civic center.

Some big ticket items in the 2023/2024 budget include: Okeechobee County’s share of the new Medical Examiner’s Office - $1.4 million; HRS professional services and construction for chillers - $600,000; Professional services for jail construction – $600,000; and construction of phase 2 of the county jail – $18.1 million.

On the plus side, Manzo said the county has been aggressively pursuing grants and has been successful in obtaining some grant funding. Funding for the jail has been requested from the Florida Legislature.