Citrus Springs resident urges board to keep millage at rollback, demands road spending transparency

Resident Didi Ray of Citrus Springs used her allotted public comment time to press the commission on millage and road funding transparency, telling the board Sept. 10 not to treat the hearing as a ceremony.

"Keep every millage at rollback," Ray said, criticizing what she described as a "shell game" that leaves taxpayers seeing an aggregate millage of 8.6085 rather than the rollback aggregate of 8.5591. She asked the board to identify the exact budget pages and line items that will pay for road resurfacing and pointed to staff‑modeled risks from homestead exemption changes, warning of a possible 20% hole in general‑fund ad valorem revenue in year one if property values remain flat.

Ray also urged commissioners to consider cuts and reserves before raising millage and specifically asked the county to stop using general fund dollars for Port Citrus Barge Canal boat‑ramp spending. Her comments drew no immediate roll‑call response beyond the chair thanking her for speaking and closing public comment.