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08/20/1990 ~:'.J:.~;:"'''~ ': . ,~l . ~~~~',>' . .. ' ~. ~ '. " .. - . . '." ' " .. , ' ',' . ' ~ . , . ' .' ' . ,,~ '.,.' '. . . i. '" ,:' ',' , . . . . : .;.~ '~>:' ~, . ~;~?,. c .. '~g'~: :.,..:; ,: . t).r. .., ,. .. , . ~l~~:;/';; '~,',}1,. ,...... . . ~~;/i.";. , ~~':( ,..,~ .,.... . ;~);i~;~{:'j.'. > ~ ..: (~\'.,:,.. . ., . p.., . , :E'..~~...~.. "<'1.' , ~f~:~~.?::'>:.. .;t:> :, :'. ' : ~!vt):.".... " . . I:i~~ii;i"!', ",", J~~l~\;~.': I" '. ~~'~;f\::'} ~. . ,~Y!,:-:':". :: ..." :t~'f~t'F;';"'::. :::. f,; ',... . " ' -. . ~~~li*~jJf,':::';;\;>~<. ,,' ,," ~11~",,,, ...'. 'i 'J .'.'. ...~" '.. ,.. . "l"" ., , 'j '. .' ~J. .1:~'.~ l~ ~.'.'~~ ,/_~ I ~,""..'.! :"..:~,. ...... " : ,'.:..:. .... '.,~':,'.".~' .".~ ""',',' '. I ,,":' :,"\' ,', ....,' '.' ..' ~' :.. .. c.', ~ ~."""'f;"'Io:;,~;r.v C'. . . ~ ..~r'_,...r~~.:~~.i:":'<".~~,:,.'".l'".", .', -t;: ~t..at~:~~f.;;'~,'i':;;';~~; ~F~1~L0--'\' ,~~.-o,~:;~l \'~~" "J;~: r\;~I:;;r .f' ,.:,,"" .,':~ or_, j , , .. ~'... , , .. ,~ . ' ~...- .' '. c ,; t". ~'~: I. " " ." ~,+ ~.""""""'~'-'j. .~, " .,' "lc'.. I..., .,.': '., ~. ' I , x.i.:.:' . '" ~l ...' ~~..' ~:\. TOWN MEETING MINUTES . Date d(/1~-I- ~ if" , ~ .i '~ ,. :.. : ~ , : .. . >,1 .., .J " , ~ I~ ,-;:' ", , ~~." : ';:~ .:,"~- '.': ... '. ,., . : , " ,. : " , .." .,'. ' '+."., . .' ' ',',' ~'" . , Commissioner ~1~".~.. ~,~~.,..."" ,,~, q " , , o BUDGET TOWN MEETING August 20, 1990 The City Commiss;on of the City of Clearwater met at Clearwater East Library with the following members present: , " " ' Rita Garvey Richard Fitzgerald Lee Regulski Sue Berfield Absent: William Nunamaker Mayor/Commissioner Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Commissioner Commhsioner !. ;" . "... I" . \ Also present were: -,/... .\': ,. .f.': .' .:': : '<..;. ~<:~ ';~'_ c, ,. ~'~t.;.." . ~~.~:) ;.: ~, ~~.' : - k::~V~',,','.' r:i\O'" ' tn~"::<.':' l'.,,~ ~\~....,~ . +:::'11. > : ~.,' , .. . ;n~:~;~/~,,;., ' " ,The, City Manager reviewed the budget process' and stated the tentative ," , : mileage' rate of 5.6 mi~ls is a 9.8% increase over last yearls mileage rate. He ., presenteds1ides and reviewed the significant increases for next yearts budget r~!/ . . .1~~Che:f~:::s l~.r~~~~o~~f~~::ft~;:;~e 7 a~~a l~h a~~~:r;n~,o"~=~i~~e:mPf~r~h~ :~~:<:;, L lbrary. The increases also include monies to bring the general fund surplus :~:;';~(': : bac~ up to the 10% required by commission policy, funds to meet, the cost of State iV~~:< ' , " ':' concurrency requirements, rising insurance costs and contract wage increases. ?1:..:,:;~~' ~ ~ :":, ' 'c . , ' f~~::',:>-:':;:,,' ',' ,,' He 'stated that 46% of the -general fund budget is for public safety which ?f':~<:::,:,,:' : includes polic.e and fire and 67% of t~e general fund covers personnel services. ~:):;i:::,':". ,'He reported, lnsurance costs have .'n~reased 10 t~e las~ three years from ;;.\~' .' .' ", ": 1,336,939.00 to ,3,166,050.00. He 1 nd 1 cated staff 1 stab ng steps to try to :~:?,:<:'" .' ,:control'thesecosts. Projects on which the City has spent money in the past {:.}(..~>""" "', include the Center Foundation, Jack Russell Stadium Improvements, Central Counter ~:g~,( ". :, , at. the City Hall Annex, New Fire Engines and enhancements to the public s:2~:";:''':::''',. information office. ':il'~~:,,:\ /, : . .; t ]::Y{.,:,-., ,:., , . He reported property taxes are 35% of the City's revenue sources and that ~,\:\,:::~,:,':,;\{;,. .... ~~t~;~&~~:i:~!~~~ i;~:b!:~ m: s~~Ci~~g~:~~ 1n~~~:!~:~m~~m~~{:m~g~ ~required. , In regard to the Clearwater Pass Bridge, he stated State and Federal ~>::~O ' , :.;;:.-." " "'TWNMTG, 8/20/90 .',.~.~;:~\~~ ). " ..')~' .~.~" ,... 1.',',", + ;'"'...,... .' - ~;~(1~'.'> . Ron H. Rabun Elizabeth Deptula Cynthia E. Goudeau City Manager Administrative Services Director City Clerk The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and the following was discussed: The,mayor reported the purpose of tonight's meeting was to receive input . from the 'public regarding the proposed budget. She announced formal publ ic hearings would be held on September 6 and September 20a 1 ~. ".,'!.,;I<:t~- 'w.........~ ~. . -, ~ ,.., ' " ' ,'" ",... ".. ',"m",~ ~, ,", ',"" '. "v,!)J" I' ;. ,"" "\P~t~~i~Wi;~~~';;o.;I, ." ':;......-4<~~..;...;,i.....'~;:;.;i?'4;.!4ihn,~~~i;.'~,1Ii~~~~~~~'-~.:;II;i~~~i-;;;........- " li~~Jiii;~;,'h;::;.~.)~{:;nr;';~';::':;:;L:;' '.. .. . . ...... .... . .. ., . ._...~,.. t-' . . :0 funding have been approved and replacement of the bridge has been scheduled for the 92/93 year with the bridge to be opened in January of 1995. He indicated that although there is a tax increase, there have been many efforts to keep costs down in the City of Clearwater. Arthur Deegan, representing the Island Estates Civic Association stated a survey had been distributed to association members. Three questions in the survey are of particular interest regarding the City of Clearwater. The survey indicated that 92% of the respondents did not feel they were getting their money's worth for the taxes they pay to the City, 97% of the respondents do not believe elected officials are trying to hold the line on taxes and 68% feel that due to increased taxes, they have been forced to think about selling their home. He distributed copies of a letter to the mayor and commissioners which he read into the record and is made a part of these minutes as exhibit A. The letter expresses concerns regarding: ba lancing the budget by increasing the mileage rate: including an increase that will make up the deficit in the general fund reserve all at one time; raising the mileage rate when their assessments have gone up: that the general operating budget has increased: the increase in the public safety sector is not keeping up with increases in other portions of the budget: the need to hold the line in salary negotiations: overtime costs for the police department: and funding cultural and recreational endeavors such as the Florida Orchestra, Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Center Foundation. Florin DeGeorgio, a director of the Island Estates Civic Association expressed concerns regarding additional deputy city managers, the gas division having trouble making a profit and expenditures in data processing. He stated due to tax increases, he may not be able to live in Clearwater any longer. Mrs. Cook of Highland Pines requested the Scientologists and other churches be made to pay property taxes. Anne Garris requested clarification regarding downtown development and when the increase in taxes for downtown property would begin to go back to the general fund rather than toward Community Redevelopment Agency funds. She questioned the need for a major new east-west road from 19 to downtown and questioned why additional office buildings are being built when the current ones are not full. Conunissioner Regulski explained the obligations made by the Community Redevelopment Agency have to be met and the CRA will exist and hold funds until those obligations are paid. Once bonds or obligations are paid off and the commission decides that the CRA's job is done, it can be abollshed. Major Martin endorsed Mr. Deegan's comments on behalf of the Coalition of Homeowners. , . , ',1', . ,;, ~ - , . ' :: ,~ .0" ,':..' " ,,'ij "('.', ,:,' ". " . '~:, ,."'- 'y. Mr. Kershaw questioned receipt of an article regarding publ ication of a .'.:' _, ,City directory. It was indicated this is not a City of Clearwater pub Hcat ion. ,:' ...0 . . . . , 2 TWNMTG 8/20/90 _.~~~....~C~'~~"*,,h.',l~~~~h~.4~.Ji~:;\I.;c~~i:t~~~~~!~~::'iH.v::.:i'~t.~:.! ,>,,~c,i:~,t~\ . "'.... (.}~'... '. , . .,:'.' .'1...' . ,..'."..~ .~.". .:','. :',:', ,"+: "4' ...'... .... :': '~,~ ~,:,,'j-"'." ~.,' :" : c, " ~ ~ ~ . " > ' (J . "c~ ,. , " . l,c, ., . , . . , ,. " ~"'<6": 'r '~. . t ," "". c' .' . . ' " ~. . ~ '. ~ ! .. . . , f, ,...-;.. . , . " . .;. " .. ~ '~ ' , "' " " ....0 ;::: , < " " . . . . . ", ' '(.' ~ , . ~ I .......', ., " 1 . ' ~ . - ~ Roy May questioned the bricking of the sidewalks in downtown. Although this project is to be paid from CRA's funds, he questioned how much City money has been spent to supplement this project. Dick Jones questioned whether or not the percentage of Clearwater residents using leisure facl1ities equals the percentage of the general fund spent on these functions. The City Manager in responding to Ms. Garris' comments indicated that downtown improvements do help the overall tax base for the City of Clearwater. Carl Whitehorn complimented the commission on this type of meeting but lodged a protest regarding the increase in the assessment on his house. It was indicated the City Commission does not set the assessments and this is handled by the County property appraiser. . Harry Myer stated he bought. his home in May for $1,000.00 less than the person he bought it from had paid and now the assessment has increased by 12.5% and taxes went up 18.54%. Herb Coopman stated in five years he has had a 13% annual increase in his taxes. Emory Hickert stated the City Commission can not do anything regarding the assessments and requested the discussion be limited to the mileage rate. John Willow stated his taxes have gone up 54.7% in four years and the City portion is up 25.4% this year. .Mr. Graydon stated the first few years his taxes did not go up very much however, in 1989 they increased 54% and after talking to Mr. Smith they were reduced to 37%. This year they are up an additional 11%. . Bill Jonson questioned what charges h'ad been made to the reserve that it needed to be restored and what State concurrency requirements were costing the City. Commissioner Regu1ski listed the unionization of sergeants and 1 ieutenants, a settlement with K-9 police officers, increase in pension, etc. as impacts on the City's reserves. Gary Bernard questioned the results of investments by the pension fund and it was indicated the City has a 13.8% return on those investments. Mr. Bernard stated he realized the City does not control assessments but when assessments increase the City should not request additional taxes. Commissioner Regu1ski stated in the Imperial Park neighborhood assessments . decreased. .He expressed concerns that when the commission considered reducing the library reference service, there were a number of people that protested. He stated when you look at all these little things they add up. TWNMTG 8/20/90 3 ~.r ~~~J).~t~;~i!/~..{t;-~,~,"' ~ ~\\\Wi~:~~t~i.,)A~".t"~';-if.~t,t);~~~;~~~~~;;J~'~'~~~.1i.~lAiijj~#J;).~.~~~:..~,~~ ~~:'ci: .;; . i-~~' ~:~:,.~~~,~~,~~.~~tt~:~~1'l;-ll\6,:~~ll~i;k ~,I~:, .:'::"~:~:. ~~ ';.:- :~v' <l:~~;:<~~,~.;.~i~ ~.'''''' L I~"":;~'J~ n<"'..-v, ....~"o;~~.""'-. ~'"",. ". r,. 4 '1'- '. , , ...~~ ,. . ,~/" .'.. .. . _~ . ~~~",~~::~r-'l.,..,., .' - . ,.. '." iil': · .\./';'~.'c . ::.,: :.( < ~. ~, ., . " +. ~" ~ ' . : I~ ~.', ' ',:~i~:~ .... .:...,.. I:~~;i::: .. !(t~i; TWNMTG 8/20/90 ::~'S\l' ., ;....1- ~ii~\./ ' ~f;;!i,.' . ~~.~~~~" .' "1 i~~;1:~,\~:~,:i~I\~,'\ ~:-f~~ ~:. ',",; ~ ..~ t,' o \ "'1.c,--:' ,: . . . C' ~, \ i' ~>'~ : . , " ~.... " ',' '.' ...., ~".:>' :' ~::~~, '/ '.':', ,:".; "j:, ~ '': ; +' . , ' .'";,, ~ ' '< ~. , ~;~,.~t:. ~UC91<, L. . .". t': ..' ~. 1~" ~t ", ~~~~. ~'" ... Don Coconar questioned a statement in a newspaper article regarding the fire department wanting to repaint old engines the same fluorescent orange as the new fire engine and questioned the need for that expenditure. Mike Canan requested the difference in price between an "off the shelftl fire engine and the customized one recently purchased by the fire department. The City Manager reported that while the customized fire engine did cost more, it was done so due to safety concerns. The mayor reported $300,000.00 had been budgeted for a single fire engine and the fire department decided to buy three for the price of one. She stated the new truck has hydraulic arms which results in fewer on the job injuries. Herbert Schram stated his concern is regarding how much money the City is spending and he feels people who receive services should pay for those services and that the cost of these services not impact the tax rate as a whole. Art Deegan questioned a report he had from a state legislator that the State was willing to allow the City to include tolls on the new bridge. Mr. 'Rabun explained if State and Federal monies were received for the construction of this bridge, no tolls could be on the bridge. At one point a consideration was that the City would expend funds to accelerate construction of the bridge. . The City would have wanted to recoup those funds through tolls. Now that the State and Federal funding has been moved up a year, this will not be necessary. Questions were raised regarding from where the State and Federal monies would come and to whom the tax assessor reports. It was indicated that the State and Federal funds also come from the tax payers and the property appraiser is elected by the citizens and therefore reports to them. .' A . suggestion was made the property appraiser be invited to attend the public hearings regarding the City's budget. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. 4 . "~<:"7'-"''''''~('''~.' ". ",. .~,. . ~-~'~~;(UoM,.....A.j'~ffl'~"iA',:,~,'~i'~";::i;~lls,;:~\\ij{A,~~:"J'i:;:..h....,..';:.,'. "h4"t,; '{l.:, . .... ",., .'~.', ~ . ,. ,: :'"l'~c, .,";,.:-~. .0<' I~,' . ". t .. ~ ...... t ,..---w~. ~~...o ~~, :r....~,'/r~~~~~~hl.l,~,f..~~. . .', ," r' .'., . .': .. " , ., ~ , . ", . ,. . .: " . ' '. ' '.: ' ',".. .. ~.' . , , ' ',' r ' ' , .' + ~, :t:'7r--~~~'~'f q," ~ ( -....>,., , " .., '.' <".;. : I Le ' .', .\' 1::. ':-'" ' ....'," <".e, ~-;.:"> >. <: :'.. _,.' r ,.... ' :' ~,"~ );~ > ;.e:. ,l ._",e. :: . ;,'. .< :.,', . r". '.' ~~:~..<': ' ;' ,-' :'~f.. L' . ',' ,'u 'l' " ',' ~, .'''' i ' f..,",: , . '. <' ...'. ;.: '> '..' . .. j' ,< > . , . . ,~ " . E~ ~\\'ll -\- .-\ ~ ' '""1-: .pc \. 'eJ I C o.c_ I)'~ ~1 I~'W.,/ 'j cJ , ="' (\D"lj --.. CITY BUDGET TOWN MEETING 8/20/90 Mayor Garvey and Commissioners: My name Is Arthur Deegan; I live at 891 Island Way In Clearwater. I am a representa. tlve of the Island Estates Civic Association, of which I am Vice President. I am not a Certified Public Accountant; but I am a Certified Financial Planner, with a PhD In 8us Admin, and over 20 years experience consulting with for-profit and not-for.proflt organizations In business policy and financial planning. Last Wednesday our Civic AssocIation distributed a survey to the residents of Island Estates. By this mornIng we already had 125 returns. We ara surs more will corns. We asked 12 questions, most of which dealt with assessed values, which of course Is not the responsibility of the city. But the answers to three questlons In particular should be of concern to you. Question #7: Do you think you are getting your money's worth for what you pay In taxes to the City of Clearwater? Answer: Ves. 5%; No. 92%; Not sure. 4% Question #9: Do you believe our elected officials are really trying to hold the line on taxes? Answer: Ves. 1 person; No. 97%; Not sure - 3% Question #12: Have Increased taxes already forced you to think you might wish to sell your home? Answer: Yes . 68%; No -25%; Not sure - 7% . For these reasons we feel we must make some comments on the proposed budget. This budget document Is a weighty volume. It's voluminous; It's heavy; It's complicated. We have had access to this document for only a few days, so we apologize at the outset If . any of our conclusions or calculations are in error. . , Recognizing the time allotted to each speaker Is limited, we would like to offer some general comments first, and then raise some specific questions. We don't expect a reply '.. tonight, but hope that you will provide answers In due time. I have placed a copy of these reflections on the proposed budget and Its associated millage Increase with the clerk and eaCh of the CommIssioners. The last page Is a summary of the survey mentioned a . moment ago. 1. There seems to be some pride being taken In submitting a "balanced" budget. We , would point out that this is easy to do when you begin with desired expenditures and bacl< Into a mlllage increase to cover any shortfall In revenue to meet that level of ..expendltures. The rest of us, of course, work the other way: we begin with antlcipated Income and limit our expendllures to stay with our means: which Is the central point of our co~menls: 10 request that the city live within Its means without raising the tax rate. 2. Thera Is also much boasting about the proposed budget being able to continue all services at current or enhanced levels. Anyone In a service Industry knows that service should be defined by the racelver,.not the giver, both In terms of what services are . desired and whether those services are being deltvered satisfactorily. The budget . package does. not document service requests or service evaluations. As for enhancements, 1 ".~, '-~h.....tiJ,.3..t......:,...,,,,,,,;,~~,..!~,,,,,,~~~~ .............~,- ,. -_...............~~~-........;.j.~~_..._..--............. ;t~a._~t.~~~~,Ao. ~, ~~l~$~~-i~~~~f"~ir-~~~~~ . ~~:;2/j.~~~'(~l<;'i!.~;y~:;.::',.~..I._~.:...:...> >c::~:'0:':1.(. ")"<;"~~:"',' ::'~' . ,:~~~'. ., ,:.~. >' '. )~.'tt't~",. h .,.. .. . , , r '. .. ' .,' .' . ,.' , ' , . '.': ~ ,.' ,1 .. , ,'. ' , A, ". , ' :.',:" '" .:' " ':. " . ". ' ,". ,~" .' , ,:' ': ' r , . ,. . . . It should be questIoned whether they are essential or simply "nice to have". We would ask our fellow citizens If they really want all those enhancements If the price we have to pay Is to give the city 18.09% more tax dollars this year than last. That figure is alarming. You are being asked to approve a 16.8% Increase In tax dollars. Compare that with the result of a recent city demographics study whIch shows that Clearwater's median household Income will Increase over the next five years by only 1.6%. Is this the time for enhancements? ., ..... , ,~. 3. We are given to understand that a full 70% of the millage Increase (.3500 mills) Is for the purpose of restoring funds depleted from the General Fund Reserve. We are told that Commission policy Is to have a contingency fund equal to 10% of general fund expenditures. but that has recently shrunk to about 7.5%. We would ask two questions: First. should that reserve be 10% of the total general fund. which appears to grow and contract like an accordion because of moving Items from one fund to another? Perhaps It should be some percentage of just the operating budget (which Is $2 million less). Second. Is it necessary that the shortfall be made up at once? After all. that is what a contingency fund Is for: to provide for unforeseen occurrences, and that Is what has happened. While we would not want to continue to draw down that contingency recklessly (as apparently the City of Dunedin has done recently). Is It necessary to restore the full amount at once. at a time when we are trying to put on additional pollee officers and other higher priority items? 4. The budget's transmittal letter (unnumbered page 3, 3rd section) says that the Penny from Pine lias Infrastructure tax Is reflected In the Capital Improvements of the budget. During the campaign to have that extra one cent sales tax passed. It was said .wlthout t~e passage of the one-cent tax. few of these projects could be constructed unless property or gas taxes were Increased." It was passed and the City of Clearwater benefits by some $7 million annually. That being the case. why Is It necessary to continue the road and drainage levy as shown on page 15; that Is. the same .4693 mills of tax as for the last four years. Wasn.t Penny for Plnellas supposed to provide some relief? ,). . ., , ;::': ' ., > . ,,: ,., ~ . .t ;'. <~:::.. , . '~....." , ).~': .' " ~; '.' ; ~ l .,,' , l". ,,/ 4, , ,;:' ' .~ '. : r ' " '. ~ 'L" : . C.C" ,...,. 5. The fourth unnumbered page of the same transmittal letter cites the Commission's philosophy of'charglng equitable user fees to provide non ad valorem revenue. We . heartily endorse that philosophy. Which prompted us to look at the General Fund . Comparative Statement of Revenue Sources on page 12. There we see that franchise fees were budgeted up 5.9% last year, but are flat this year. Licenses and permits were budgeted up 2.4% last year. but are flat this year. Intergovernmental revenue was budgeted up 11% last year, but down . 1.7% this year. Utility tax was budgeted up 3.6% last year. but only 2.7% this year. So each of these user sources Is budgeted down In dollar amounts, while ad valorem taxes. which were Increased 2.7% last year, and being Increased 22.9% this year. Isn't that the exact opposite of the Commission policy? The property tax proportion of proposed city revenue has gone up from 32% to 35%. ')~.:. C ",.f:.: ';. , ~ ; ',::C' '. -t" '::'" . r~ C ;. t;'~ ~,~ .. . .:., :.'! : :1. ' , ,." , .. ~T ',' ..' , : !.~ .' .' , ", >. \~'.~:. . . .~, .' :, > .<1'1 C T'C. , ...' . , , l d : , The user fees section of the City Manage"s Forward to this BUdget (on page II) mentions that there Is an ongoing staff review of permits and fees. etc.. but while '; , '~ . '{~':: ,. " ~ " .' 2 : ' ~ ' . ~ ;" ." . . - ~~:~~~~"~~>>W'N:~~:t.~~~\i~'#'~.;.ii~i.i~~'''''''''lj..~, ---~: -'~"'-"""-~,loU."""'~M-~';i~~___-: - r -----~~___........:.".Mo'fh,.~~ i~1~',:~;b;)L:>:'<;,:: :,:.. ) . "},;;:, '"",':,, ,.. ' , , .., :.', , , ' ~ .', '. ~ : .'".,' ' .. ',1 . ," , r," , .' ".' ~ . . . .,',. . I . , . '. , ' , .. , ,':..':,' '.: : ' ", , ~' ,'.,...,: .'.' . "I.:.'.'., , .,' / . . .,' ..,. ':., ~' .', ", ..', .' ':-': '.', '..: ~ ~t~~~~:::-,~.< .J'; '~~~.';'", :..'}~. .~~~~~~-:--'" f~"'~-::1'.~ ,.h.....I..~, 'c" ,~ .....\';".y.."".. ( , . " .1, . ,. 1...'... '. ' .:-1... ,~,' , ; " , ,< , :,{ ;:(, '., " ~ :.:~ .'.'. . . Jt . . I,.. "; '1 ': " " . '.. " , <.~ , '.",- :t " ,'. , ~>~~. . '.. . . , . . " . .,~,. " " ~ ,', , +' .,"" :..J' :'. . . \ . , , . \, ~: ; ., , > ,~ '. , 'i',"';c ,. . .: ~' .. " ' ~~:~: ~,~I:;, ' !', ~.": ,'> " f" , :.c,.. .' ,.', "'( , ..' c . Co, /; the review Is going on, they are asking you to require property owners to bear a bigger and bigger pIece of the load. Parenthetically, It might help In a budget package If the underlying assumptions about demographIcs, change In valuation and the like were stated somewhere, because they doubtless have led to some of the figures here, but we don't have the advantage of knowing them as we review the document. We.ve made a few other correlations of some of the figures In the document which suggest other questions we would like to pose. 6. On page 8 we notice that the recommended total general fund expense budget Is almost $700,000 less than the total of all requested by staff department heads. That Is certatnly a step In the right direction. But it amounts to only 1/2 of one percent cut. If you were running any other $58 mlllil,)n dollar enterprise (we're dealing only with the General Fund here) that was facing a shortfall In revenue of some 35%, guess how much department heads would be told to cut their bUdget requestsl 7. We all know that the biggest single factor In determining the level of millage required to fund city expenses Is the taxable property value. On page 15 of the budget document we note that last year the appraised value Increased 2.7%. The city could logically expect a corresponding 2.7% Increase in dollars received, and you decided to limit . spending to that amount plus a modest Increased millage of .100 mills. On that same page 15. the new budget estimates an Increased valuation of a full 6%. which should provide 6% more dollars at the old millage rate, which would allow you to ,take care of normal Inflation etc. Yet you are being asked to approve a tax rate that will generate an extra 16.8% dollars. Any citizen getting a 6% raise would find a way to live within that limit and not rush out and desire to spend three times that much: why should the city not do as Individual citizens? 8. The tax levy section on page 15 shows a pension Increase for employees this year of 25%. > Is this because it was under funded previously? Will It now be over funded like so many corporate pension funds have been found to be recently? 9. ' The biggest Jump tn thIs secUon Is the General Operating line Item. Last year It went up 2.4%: again In keeping with the modest 2.7% Increase In property valuation. This year property values are up over two times that to 6%, yet you are being asked to approve an increase of 22.8% In the General Operating budget. That is notlfvlng within your means. 10. What we hear most to justify the tax Increase Is the demand by the citizens for more police protection. The transmittal Jetter mentioned a "continued focus on public safety". And we keep hearing about 15 more officers and then 1 0 more officers and now 11 more officers because Chief Klein said 3 years ago that we need 50 more officers to compare favorably with other cities of our size and type. We think the pollee and the citizens' desire for more protection Is getting a bum rap. Why? Look at the figures cited on page 253 of the budget document which show what has happened to various categories of governmental expenditures over the last ten years. Public safety expenses have Increased 117% over ten years. but general government has increased 181 % and physical environment has Increased 197%. Does that sound like spending our money where our prIorities are? 3 T'~~~"",,~~_.......,.,..,~~- ..~................~...~':'~~:~,,~ :;~'1J~~~~ 1 ''':: ..~ ,.... '... ' , .' Looking at just the last two fiscal periods In that table, the same disparIty Is present. You approved a 6.5% Increase In public safety expenses, but a 32% Increase In general government expenses. 32% for general government, while the whole operatlng budget went up only 6%, Put differently, general government expenses were 25% of public safety ten years ago; now when wetre supposed to be emphasizing public safety, general government has risen to 33% of public safety expenditures. Does thIs sound consistent with polley? We have on IV looked at the gross fIgures. Obviously a budget Is put together by a lot of detailed figures. TryIng to shave the budget means looking at some of those details. 12. The first thing we are told about the details Is that about 2/3 of the expenditures are found In salaries and benefits, because city government Is heavily people oriented. Let's look at some people costs. On page I of the Foreword to this document, the City Manager points out that final salary levels will be dependent upon the outcome of labor union negotiations. Clearly negotiating strategies are not the sort of thing you discuss In open forum, but for what It Is worth, employees -. whether unionized or not -. must be made to understand what revenue Is available to handle salary demands, and that the citizens just will not stand for tax increases of this size to fund more than what is reasonable and comparable. That is any what has to be done in any other service orlen:.:.:! organization, like a hospital, a . college, a social service agency. "Do more with less" Is the order of the day in tough times. And if anyone thinks we are not facing tough times, he or she has not baen listening to the news from the MIdeast and Its Impact on our economy. On this same page we are told that the budget includes a 2% cost ot living Increase and up to a 5% additional increase based on merit systems and step increases. Yet the supporting figures for the wage and salary line item In at least two departments of over 60 people seem to indicate the dept head added the 2 and the 5 and automatically budgeted a minimum of 7% across the board. Now, a merit raise up to 5% does not mean everyone gets 5% or merit no longer means anything. We are also told a 100% personnel budget is being budgeted. If we don't have enough money to fund the kind of raIses we would like to give, then we have to spread the dollars among fewer people, which means Instituting a hiring freeze and effecting a salary savings through attrition. That Is what Is done by any organization without the power to tax. Then there is the matter of overtime. We are gratified to see that your Budget Advisory , Committee Is reviewing overtime In the Police Department. We can recall Chief Klein explainIng overtime In the past by saying he didn't have enough officers. Two years ago when he got 15 officers, his overtime was $400,000; last year when he got 10 more . officers, his overtime went up to $700,000; now you are being asked to approve 11 more officers and 3 communications personnel. and overtime of $900,000. Usually the number of employees and the level of overtime expenses move In opposite directions. 13. Another item that deserves attention concerns gIfts of tax monies to cultural and recreational endeavors. Our sUlvey asked the question: Do you favor the City using tax dollars to make contributions to the Florida Orchestra, to Ruth Eckerd Hall, to the Center Foundation, etc.? Answer: Yes. 12%; No - 87%; Not Sure . 2% ( ". ,. . :.~, . . " . 'c ." . " " .', ',:.". .,...', ..', " ~ I ..' I ~ . . }.:'., ,< ';-.:. ',(~:~ ' . ',; ,', . , r',' . '{.< . .~ ' ' .\ ., . ., . . .' IJ '. . .. ~ . . . . . ; ':.', ~..'" ." ..,;:;," ''(.': , ~ ~'. . ., . . ~t:';:. ..' . . '. ~.~..\.:- ~, ' n;f,::~: <. .... . -. . , -F~'\ .'. .,.'. , .~" . , . " .. '; ... .> ". . . ;c. . . .'.'L .: . ~ c'. 4 '7 r..lDII........' v~ ." -'4,,":. ;., l;:1;i'"'..'" , ,". -... ,. ...! ,~ , T....":"~...~H~~~'t~~~llIII~ -l.~ >...,~+oJ~ ... "-'l:.......-rb.\'l'd..~~~.........ir~~....H,t.v.J- ~-- -~. -~~_\~,~i.?. .', . \',~L'!.' , . c . i:.f .!i;\;r>JI""'V>,L\~h . . . , , . ", . . ' . ,~.' " ' ' , ... '. I. , ' . . . , . . "~,' , " ' '., ~*":~~?/Y~:> ."~: '. (...:- '. ij~} <.. ' .... r.;?~\, .J.~'<: c~ ,: ~ : -~. ,'l . ~ "~:;,'.,:: '." ~\. -;+ ;. ;~~:.. , " ::"./ ,.. ::..; " '1"'f'\- . '.~,' > . ; :t1c r , (, , . ~ ~ ;:'l.;j.l~ '(...,;,,. "" " ~~"''''~,''.tl"""~.''..'-;i-''I:;r,."~')""y",,,, ...I.....c.~._. ~'." .>,..':'.'-.,"I.......~ ~~... .. 'j ." , " In conclusion, I can't help recall that the last time I attended a city meeting In this room was on Feb. 22nd. and every sIngle candidate for election to a city office promised to scrutinIze the budget carefully and hold the line on taxes. We did read your lips at that time, and frankly we think this budget document has not yet had enough scrutiny. " (' :, ", .: :':" '(..' c ~ .c, "~ ....~. t, .,...' Thank you for your attention. .~~~ . . l.... ;,< f~(' . ,:...... Arthur X. Deegan II, PhD Vice President Island Estates Civic Association 819 Island Way Clearwater Fl. 34630 '., f:, 5 , r' '. .' .' ....... I".... ~. . n'.......;..;~...l,~. ."PIH'.~.~~(. ,~, ' I l ...,.......,..~ 4 ,,=, , ' . "-, ," ~ ~ ' , _.:~""~.~' H.,..,)-,~.~ _..... ......,,>,. . . ,. SAVE OUR HOMES Survey, Island Estates Civic Association, August 1990 (~/ Question 1. Should Flleglslators put a limit (cap) on the total % of property tax Increase yearly? 2. Would you support a voter referendum to amend the state constitution for such a cap? 3. Do you feel the method used by the Appraiser to value your property each year Is equitable 4. Do you think basing your property's value on resales In the area Is equitable? '. .' .'. '. " ",' ~~: ;', .', .' . ". ~... - , , ~l~ :'~<~:. '. I~':'\ ~": :, Yf'~'~~<,:~'~ "~' ;;;t:~:.:"~ ': :: ~;'6?'. .' .'. ..... ~h9 ~:~~:::s ~~~~ ~~:s~~~~I~ . . . '7~ Do' you think you. are getting . your. 'money's worth for what . . you. pay. In taxes to Clearwater? ;W(!~>.". . .~:'" . 8; . Do you favor the City using w.:~;~::. :.'. <'... '.... :~ri:~~.~~~~~dmH~I~ a~odn~~~~ike ~~'v~'~:;>~. "'<.".. ': ,:. >' c ,!' . . , ~~'r'.: i.,':..' .', . :. . '. . .9.' Do you believe our elected {i: _ ~i .',: ',' . :'>{i",:.:;, '.: ........'. officials. are" really trying to ~'1>> .'. c., c, " , . . ,. . !:,:.! ..... . '.' . hold the line on taxes? l' ~.i.;/i; ;'.1,': :' . . >. ~ ~t!t .....~... :..:: '.' ,'. .10. Do you want your Civic As. j"\': ,+ ~ . " ' , " ' ~rr{::.::~ " . .:. ..... . . . 'soclatlon to spend Its energIes ~;:Ct.!" .:. ..... ., .... flgh~lng. this battle for you? .~l~i./3 ,::,~/ .' ' , ' . , + ;::.~?:.\...;' " . '. .' .. 11. . Do yo'u live In: . "~' " , '>, , ~'L;\\; ........'. .. .~l:--.. ;~~;' < > IIi>:. :1.:/\,.:.....' . . 5. Do you believe the 1990 as. . sessed value on your property Is a fair one? .. 12. Have Increased taxes sl- .' ready forced you to think you n~lght wish to sell your home? SIngle Answer No. % Ves 93 96 No 3 3 NA 1 1 Ves 93 96 No 3 3 NA 1 1 Yes 1 1 No 92 95 NA 4 4 Yes 6 6 No 87 90 NA 4 4 Yes 5 4 No 89 92 NA 3 4 Yes 1 1 No 67 69 NA 29 30 Yes 3 4 No 91 94 NA 3 4 Ves 1 1 1 1 No 84 86 NA 2 2 Ves 0 0 No 96 99 NA 1 1 Yes 93 96 No 3 4 NA 1 1 Single Condo Town Yes 70 72 No 20 21 NA 7 7 Page 1 ~~~fi~~\::.::~t~:.>:,;..:~. '~::.i~.:\7:~;(~~~~.:;:'T~~~~~ ;,.:~".; ". ,-:' .'" ..... . Condo Town No. % No. % 30 100 3 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 100 3 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 25 83 2 67 2 7 1 33 9 30 0 0 21 70 3 100 0 0 0 0 4 1 3 1 33 24 80 2 67 2 7 0 0 2 7 0 0 17 57 0 0 1 1 37 3 100 3 10 0 0 26 87 2 67 1 3 1 33 3 1 0 1 33 27 90 2 67 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 27 90 2 67 2 7 1 33 29 97 3 100 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 17 57 11 37 2 7 1 33 2 67 o 0 Totals No. % 126 97 3 2 1 1 126 97 3 2 1 1 4 3 119 92 7 5 15 12 111 85 4 3 10 8 115 88 5 4 3 2 84 65 40 31 6 5 119 92 5 4 15 1 2 113 87 2 2 1 1 125 97 4 3 125 96 3 2 2 2 97 75 30 23 3 2 88 68 33 25 9 7 :., ' .,': " I '.', '., .,.' . " '. ,', ',' '" ',. . ,.' .' ,'. '" '. .' , '.' _-...6..-..,... . ~ 1 ,~ .d , . " . <,. J ., . :' ", ,',' " " , ' ".' , , ' .,'.,,', '..,' . . , " ' '. .'". . ~ , .'. , lTJ:~'\;.".~~"""," ,,,., .:: . : 1(,".' i.~:. l .' ,':~.': ~~~:' -:.- . \ ~:: . .~< ~\'< ~ :.~. . " . ~. " . " I. ~ ' ,...;1, . I :~i. .' . . '~j;,' , :. " ~~,,,:"'''.;'~.r'~'':'.::~'~~'1~.:'' '" '.1 1'1: ~ F' I .. ,'~ . ~ " '~, +., ,~.,. '...,' ....",T,' . . ,..,.:' , '. .1" "~. . "~"'.; : .<," . h.... Total. taxable valuation. per City budget (p.15): ~),~.~ : ; .~". /.-:':" ,: '...., . I ~ . '. > ..,... '.' Total taxable valuation. per County Appraiser. via telephone Total tax dollars to City. per. Clly budget (p.15): . :, . . Total tax dollars to City. per County Appraiser. . via telephone . . .. ,..'. .; SELECTED FIGURES 1a6..a $3.901.677.597 $3.856.684.436 @ 5.1 mills $18,903.635 @ 5.1 mllls $18.700,607 6 ll.9J1 $4,134.217.996 $4.134.217.996 @ 5.6 mills $22.084.031 @ 5.6 mills $22.084.031 ~~111U'1 T ~ *~.. u:Vl'Ill.d -./ ... \"'~r.<.. :'i~'''': .'.>1, '.. ...::. "...~' I;, .. ;t. ." " ~, ". ~ Jncrease 5.9% 7.2% 16.8% 18.09% I y'- .' :. ' ' .'.if>..::, ." '~'.. ',~' '. '+:. .' :. .t, ~. r~'(1\ ':~, !"'t I....: .' .:i.';. ~ .. .J'...., ...-J. 11~li/;+ii: .... ~...s..,. ," . . ~~~i/~:'~<i:;::';~>~ ::.; .N!\'''''''('' . ...... 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