Marion County budget workshops set for July 16, 17, 23 and 24

County Attorney Matthew Minter, left, and County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes, right, listen during a Marion County Commission meeting in Ocala on Feb. 20, 2024. They will represent their departments in a series of budget workshops that begin July 16. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to attend fiscal year 2025–2026 budget workshops beginning July 16 at the Marion County Commission Auditorium, at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.

The workshops are a part of the annual budget process and offer insight into how tax dollars are allocated. County departments, program directors and constitutional officers will present their budget requests and priorities during the sessions.

All sessions will begin at 9 a.m., unless otherwise noted.

Workshops are open to the public and will be streamed live at marionfl.org/agendas

Wednesday, July 16 – Departments presenting include:

• Budget
• County Administration
• County Attorney
• Public Relations
• Human Resources
• 9-1-1 Management
• Procurement Services
• Building Safety
• Municipal Services
• Community Services
• Veterans Services
• Growth Services
• Public Library System
• Facilities Management
• Information Technology

July 17 – Departments presenting include:

• Court Administration and Related Programs
• Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership
• Parks & Recreation
• Cooperative Extension
• Utilities
• Solid Waste
• Visitors Bureau
• Fleet Management
• Animal Services
• Engineering
• TPO
• Public Safety Communications
• Fire Rescue Services

July 23 – Presentations from:

• State Attorney
• Property Appraiser
• Supervisor of Elections
• Tax Collector
• Clerk of Court
• Marion County Sheriff’s Office

July 24 – Agencies presenting include:

• Workshop Recap by Budget Director Audrey Fowler
• Public Defender (Michael Graves)
• Marion County Health Unit (Mark Lander)
• Marion County Children’s Alliance (Beth McCall)
• Early Learning Coalition (Carrie Theall)
• Marion Senior Services Transit (Jennifer Martinez)
• Historical Commission (Richard Cardinali)
• Marion Soil Conservation District (Vivi Serena)
• Small Business Development Council (Dr. Philip Geist)
• Guardian Ad Litem Program (Barbara Robertson)

Budget access and final hearing:

• The FY 2025–2026 recommended budget can be viewed via the Marion County Clerk and Comptroller’s webpage at marioncountyclerk.org/departments/budget/bocc-budget
• The final budget will be considered for adoption during a public hearing on Sept. 24. Once adopted, the approved budget will be made available on the county’s website.

For more information, go to marionfl.org/budget