VERO BEACH — Indian River County Property Appraiser Wesley Davis announced Wednesday that his office has once again returned hundreds of thousands of dollars in unspent budget dollars to the county, crediting the savings to technology upgrades, strategic staffing and a focus on operating “under budget.”
Davis said the surplus funds — which state law requires be returned to the county at the end of each fiscal year — reflect his office’s ongoing effort to “do more with less” while maintaining service levels.
“These savings don’t happen by chance,” Davis said. “They are the result of hard work, strategic hiring, and smart investments in cost-saving technology.”
Davis described returning unused funds not merely as a legal requirement but as “an opportunity to give back to the taxpayers who fund our operations.”
He noted the returned money gives county commissioners added flexibility to fund priorities elsewhere without raising taxes, specifically citing potential initiatives proposed by Sheriff Eric Flowers.
“We are pleased that our efficiencies may help other departments meet their priorities and give our County Commissioners the flexibility to consider initiatives — such as those proposed by Sheriff Flowers — that do not place an additional tax burden on Indian River County residents,” the statement read.
Davis thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its support and pledged continued collaboration with fellow constitutional officers.
The Property Appraiser’s Office is responsible for identifying all taxable property in the county, determining its value and producing the annual tax roll used by local governments and taxing authorities. Davis ran on a platform of modernizing the office and controlling costs.
County budget records show the office has returned surplus funds each year since Davis took office.
