Loading...
08/20/1990 - Budget Town Meeting BUDGET TOWN MEETING August 20, 1990 The City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at Clearwater East Library with the following members present: Rita Garvey Mayor/Commissioner Richard Fitzgerald Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Lee Regulski Commissioner Sue Berfield Commissioner Absent: William Nunamaker Commissioner Also present were: Ron H. Rabun City Manager Elizabeth Deptula Administrative Services Director Cynthia E. Goudeau 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 public hearings would be held on September 6 and September 20. The City Manager reviewed the budget process and stated the tentative mileage rate of 5.6 mills is a 9.8% increase over last year's mileage rate. He presented slides and reviewed the significant increases for next year's budget which include 15 public safety employees, 7 health and environmental employees, 1.5 employees to support infrastructure and 1 additional employee for the Library. The increases also include monies to bring the general fund surplus back up to the 10% required by commission policy, funds to meet the cost of State concurrency requirements, rising insurance costs and contract wage increases. He stated that 46% of the general fund budget is for public safety which includes police and fire and 67% of the general fund covers personnel services. He reported insurance costs have increased in the last three years from 1,336,939.00 to 3,166,050.00. He indicated staff is taking steps to try to control these costs. Projects on which the City has spent money in the past include the Center Foundation, Jack Russell Stadium Improvements, Central Counter at the City Hall Annex, New Fire Engines and enhancements to the public information office. He reported property taxes are 35% of the City's revenue sources and that 25% of a citizen's total tax bill is for the City of Clearwater. He reported the Penny for Pinellas sales tax surcharge will assist in keeping the mileage rate down. He also reported that in the 1990's Stormwater Management will be required. In regard to the Clearwater Pass Bridge, he stated State and Federal 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: balancing 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. Commissioner 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 abolished. Major Martin endorsed Mr. Deegan's comments on behalf of the Coalition of Homeowners. Mr. Kershaw questioned receipt of an article regarding publication of a City directory. It was indicated this is not a City of Clearwater publication. 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 facilities 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 had been made to the reserve that it needed to be restored and what State concurrency requirements were costing the City. Commissioner Regulski listed the unionization of sergeants and lieutenants, 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 Regulski 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. 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 shelf" 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.