The Monroe County Commission on Wednesday approved a $327 million budget and property tax rate that's below rollback for the first time in at least 11 years, but it came at a cost: a 14 percent staff reduction in the past year.

"We're pushing employees to do more work and it's unsustainable," County Administrator Roman Gastesi said after the unanimous vote to approve the 2009-2010 budget. "We have transportation mechanics doing foreman work, supervising themselves."

The tax rate is 3.78, meaning property owners will pay about $378 per $100,000 of assessed value, which is 0.28 percent below rollback, the rate at which the county would collect the same amount of revenue as the previous year.

During debate over the funding of firehouses in unincorporated Monroe County, the commissioners voted to delay professionalizing the Layton Volunteer Fire Department until Jan. 1, moving it back from its original start date of Oct. 1.

The budget includes $122.1 million in operating expenses, which includes social services and other public welfare programs; $70.7 million in capital projects; $49.7 million for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office; and $27 million for the Tourist Development Council. The county also has earmarked $3.1 million for its share toward the State Attorney's and Public Defender offices.

The county will not ask homeowners to pay MSTUs, the taxing districts for Key Largo, Bay Point, Big Coppitt, Conch Key, Long Key and Layton, which either are about to expire or their projects are nearly complete, Gastesi said.

Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro said residents must realize when there's money to fund favored projects, the commission will do so, but "these days there's not the money to do the things we want to do."

"We have to be ready for some tough years."

Some residents had suggestions for the commissioners. Troy Zinser, who rents vacation property, asked the commissioners to keep personnel costs down.

"Even though the millage rates are down, gas taxes are up, we're paying taxes for sewers, and trash fees are higher," Zinser said. "Any positions you add this year will have to be removed next year. Quit adding stuff [to the budget]."

jguerra@keysnews.com