Monroe County Commissioners voted 4-1 on a tentative $674 million spending plan with funding cuts nonetheless in place to Florida Keys nonprofits serving essentially the most susceptible populations.
The approval throughout a Sept. 9 funds listening to in Key West got here after two commissioners tried to alleviate the reduce. Particularly, nonprofit businesses in social providers and well being that obtain funds by way of the county’s Human Providers Advisory Board are in line for a 50% discount.
Greenback smart, it’s a $1.1 million slash in complete funds for organizations like Keys AHEC, Florida Keys Wholesome Begin Coalition, Home Abuse Shelter, Star of the Sea Basis (SOS), Key West’s MARC Home and Samuel Home, along with different nonprofits.
Further county funds cuts embody layoffs, eliminating 20 vacant positions and forgoing Freebee rideshare service. Spending reductions of $41.6 million, as outlined within the tentative funds, come amid new scrutiny over native authorities spending by the state Division of Authorities Effectivity. Shaped in February by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the stage company mirrors the federal DOGE as soon as spearheaded by Elon Musk to eradicate “wasteful spending.”
A presentation by DOGE group lead Eric Soskin to the Florida Affiliation of Counties in June outlined the division’s priorities, together with pinpointing “stylish or low-ROI” spending together with “pointless use of taxpayer funds to help (non-governmental organizations)” and “sponsored competitors with non-public enterprises.”
A report by DOGE highlighting authorities spending throughout the Sunshine State is anticipated to come back out in January 2026. Out of that report, Monroe County officers are hoping to get readability on what DOGE and the state deem as “pointless spending.”
A number of public audio system informed county commissioners they didn’t imagine authorities funding for nonprofits serving susceptible populations was “pointless.”
“We’re the one licensed home violence middle serving Monroe County,” mentioned Sherrie Schwab, government director for the Home Abuse Shelter.
She mentioned funding by way of HSAB helps the group’s outreach program from Key Largo to Key West. The five-person HSAB beneficial the Home Abuse Shelter obtain $98,895 in county funds. With county funding cuts, the shelter would obtain half of that.
“We offer life-saving service, and never everyone wants emergency shelter,” she mentioned. “Outreach is offered to those that aren’t in an emergency however want important life-saving service.”
County Commissioner Craig Cates proposed they offer human providers nonprofits 50% of funding they requested for the upcoming fiscal 12 months and doubtlessly a further 25%, or roughly $550,000, from reserves as soon as they obtain extra readability from the DOGE report. Commissioner David Rice, who supported Cates’s movement, mentioned it’s an “acknowledgement of hope and intent for our nonprofit neighborhood.” Rice was the lone “no” on the county spending plan.
Finally, Cates’s movement failed 3-2 with Commissioners Holly Raschein, Michelle Lincoln and Mayor Jim Scholl voting “no.” Raschein mentioned she supported Cates’s intention whereas noting commissioners might nonetheless reconvene and doubtlessly present extra {dollars} as soon as extra steering comes out of Tallahassee in early 2026. Scholl agreed with Raschein’s statements.
Lincoln famous the fee agreed to extend its millage price with a purpose to generate a further $2 million for its emergency reserves for hurricane cleanup. Between the cuts and improve within the millage to 2.7372, or $273 per $100,000 of a property’s taxable worth, the county is anticipated to spice up its emergency reserves from $10 million to $14 million.
Lincoln expressed issues utilizing funds from the reserves for doubtlessly one thing else. Lincoln additionally acknowledged that not each county funds nonprofit the best way Monroe County does by way of HSAB.
“I perceive we’re a lot totally different simply given the place we stay than most different counties,” she added.
County Administrator Christine Hurley famous that the DOGE director’s speak at a latest Florida Affiliation of Counties convention revealed among the focus areas for DOGE by way of spending. It included stopping the move of funds which help unsuitable, illegal or unscientific ideologies, actions with low return on funding and pointless use of funds to help nongovernmental organizations.
“We went into the funds understanding these have been their (state’s) priorities,” Hurley informed commissioners. “Some aren’t standard and we all know that and we’re sorry for that. However we acknowledge after the state handed their funds, the governor vetoed a considerable portion of the funds associated to nonprofits and the humanities.”
In July, Keys Weekly reported some $560 million have been axed from the legislatively-approved state funds by the governor. A bit of greater than $5 million in comparable health-related funding throughout the state, recognized as “Appropriation 436” within the legislature’s funds, have been reduce. It included $975,000 for Keys AHEC, which supplies dental providers, together with cleanings, sealings and X-rays, in addition to well being providers, together with physicals forward of the college 12 months for youngsters within the Keys.
Cuts on the state and county ranges are serving as a double-whammy for Keys AHEC. Michael Cunningham, Keys AHEC CEO, mentioned his group stands to lose $98,000 in county funds.
“This may have devastating results on well being and social service applications that take care of our working class households, youngsters and disabled,” Cunningham informed Keys Weekly. “Providers at the moment out there for a lot of businesses will likely be diminished or eradicated and can seemingly by no means have the ability to be restored. We thank those that tried to help and have been supportive.”
A ultimate county listening to on the millage price and spending plan is about for Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5:05 p.m. on the Murray Nelson Authorities Middle in Key Largo.