2006-2007 Annual Report - Santa Rosa County

How do we Compare?Santa Rosa County has one of the lowest per capita costs per citizen, or theaverage amount citizens pay for county services, in the state of Florida. Whenyou compare counties, you have to factor in the amount of people living inunincorporated areas. The more people you have living in unincorporatedareas, the greater number of people you will have utilizing the services providedby a county and not by a town or city. The good work being done by Santa RosaCounty is shown in the numbers- Santa Rosa County provides its services at thelowest costs compared to seven out of eight neighboring counties and countiesof similar size. Okaloossa County does have a lower per capita rate, but it alsohas only 59 percent of its population living in unincorporated areas, whereSanta Rosa has 90 percent. That means the county is responsible for providingservices to a much greater population/area.Comparable Counties Cost per Citizen*FY2006Per Capita% Population inCounty Population * Ad Valorem ** 2008 Budget Unincorporated AreasEscambia 307,045 444.5 726.1 82%Okaloosa 191,128 350.4 504.1 59%Charlotte 159,224 978.2 1,122.8 89%Citrus 136,558 565.6 798.3 92%Hernando 156,494 503.9 879.5 95%Indian River 134,815 709.6 748.4 64%Martin 141,365 849.8 1,089.7 86%St. Johns 164,966 783.3 1,269.4 88%Santa Rosa 139,597 420.1 573.2 90%* 2006 Population & Per Capita Ad Valorem Taxes provided by the State** 2008 Budget for Taxing Funds Expenditure only (General Fund and Road & Bridge only)9