Constitutional officers present mainly continuation budgets; small technology and signage requests noted

Alachua County constitutional officers delivered largely continuation budgets at the May 19 budget session, flagging a handful of targeted needs for commissioners to consider as the county moves through its budget process.

Michael Reeves, court administrator, said court administration proposed converting two part‑time probate case managers into one full‑time position after both current employees plan to leave, and requested that a half‑funded position be paid fully from the general fund going forward. "We are essentially a continuation budget except for two personnel‑related items," Reeves said, asking that county‑funded court employees be included in any across‑the‑board raises.

The Guardian ad litem representative thanked the commission for county‑funded staff and had no new funding requests. The public defender (referred to as Miss Scott) and state attorney (introduced as Mr. Kramer) each described continuation budgets; Kramer also updated commissioners on near‑complete lobby hardening at the State Attorney's Office and ongoing planning for upgraded security cameras and controlled parking‑lot access.

Jess Irby, County Clerk and Comptroller, requested a continuation budget and asked for $7,000 to cover a new back‑office software implementation to create a better online portal for citizen petitions challenging property appraiser findings. Irby noted that many court forms are Supreme Court‑approved, limiting how much staff can simplify legal forms, but said the county's self‑help center provides assistance to residents who struggle with legalese.

The property appraiser reported a continuation budget and asked that the commission look into replacing or repairing a weather‑worn monument sign outside the office that has become illegible. Supervisor of Elections Kim said the office has no new funding requests, but confirmed the budget supports the full cycle of the general election (63 precincts and eight early‑voting sites) and that recount costs were not included unless required later. Tax Collector John Power described a continuation budget with software and ADA enhancements planned, said the office expects to return about $1 million to taxing authorities next year through operational efficiencies, and said staff are exploring a mobile unit to serve residents who cannot visit offices in person.

Commissioners pressed constitutional officers about data coordination and form readability. One commissioner urged simplifying public‑facing forms to an eighth‑grade reading level where possible; the property‑appraiser and supervisor of elections acknowledged the concern and said they would continue efforts to improve readability. On data analytics, the clerk said the office maintains records while court administration generally performs analyses; commissioners asked county staff to coordinate data efforts where appropriate.

What happens next: commissioners accepted the presentations and adopted the meeting agenda earlier in the session; the budget requests will be folded into the county's FY‑27 budget deliberations and OMB will work with constitutional officers as final FRS rates and other variables are determined.