Fiscal Year 2013 Recommended Budget Book - Lake County

Honorable Members of the Board of County CommissionersBudget Message for Fiscal Year 2013July 12, 2012Page 14PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (FUND 1210)Department: Community ServicesPublic paratransit and fixed-route services are provided to citizens and visitors in Lake County through acontracted service provider. LakeXpress fixed-route service began on May 21, 2007 primarily along theU.S. Highway 441 corridor, including The Villages, Eustis and Leesburg. A third route through MountDora and Tavares began in July 2008. On July 1, 2009, a fourth bus route began operating from theAltoona Post Office on S.R. 19 to the Community of Zellwood on U.S. 441, where passengers cantransfer to LYNX route 44. The FY 2013 budget also provides for Express Route service from the Parkand Ride on S.R. 27 to downtown Orlando.Lake County Connection is a state-funded program and provides low-cost transportation services to thetransportation disadvantaged such as the mobility-impaired and mentally-impaired, as well as seniorcitizens. Currently, the County contracts with MV Transportation, Inc. as its paratransit provider.Revenues include a subsidy from the General Fund, Federal and State grants, fare revenues,miscellaneous revenues and fund balance. Because funding is limited, staff will continue to evaluate allservices. A goal is to move patrons from the paratransit service to the fixed-route service when possible,thus reducing paratransit trips, which are more costly.AFFORDABLE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TRUST (FUND 1260)Department: Community ServicesState Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds are received from the State to assist low and moderateincome households in the purchase of a home. These funds can be used for down payments, closing costsand mortgage buy downs for new homes, or for existing homes that have been or will be repaired within12 months of transfer of title. SHIP funds are distributed on an entitlement basis to all 67 counties and 53CDBG entitlement cities in Florida. The amounts remitted to Lake County are based on a percentage ofdocumentary stamp collections.SECTION 8 (FUND 1270)Department: Community ServicesThe Section 8 Housing Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment. The program makes rental housing affordable to very low-income families through rentalsubsidies paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. In some cases, a utilitysubsidy also is paid.FEDERAL/STATE GRANTS (FUND 1300)Departments: Community Services, Public Safety, Public WorksThe Federal and State Grants Fund was established beginning in FY 2010 to account for certain grantrevenues that previously were budgeted in the General Fund. Since grant revenues must be spent for thepurposes they were received, these revenues had to be tracked manually to assure that unspent funds werenot inadvertently directed to other programs and services. With the establishment of this fund, theserevenues will no longer be co-mingled with General Fund revenues.