Town Commission
Special Meeting
The Town Commission of the Town
of Melbourne Beach, Florida met in special session on
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In attendance were Mayor William Stacey, Vice-Mayor Sandy Wilson, and Commissioners Donnie Price, Paul Guglietta, and Steve Walters. Also present were Town Manager Jim Bursick, Municipal Accountant Jane Antonsen and Interim Town Clerk Karan Rounsavall.
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Mayor Stacey called the meeting to order and offered the invocation. The entire assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
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The purpose of the meeting was
presentation of the proposed budget for
Town Manager Bursick review his budget message and fiscal highlights for the ensuing budget year. General fund revenues and expenditures were proposed to increase by approximately $130,000 or 6.8 percent over Fiscal Year 2005/2006. The proposed budget was balanced with an ad valorem millage rate of 2.6331 which was 9.9967 percent over the rolled-back rate of 2.3938 mills. The proposed millage was based on a total valuation of $374,295,349 (as provided by the Brevard County Property Appraiser). The proposed millage rate, which was an increase over the previous year, would generate an additional $76,958 for General Fund operating expenditures.
The budget also proposed an increase in the electrical utility tax rate from six to eight percent as well as the implementation of a utility tax on water bills at an eight percent rate. Due to Department of Revenue notification requirements, these revenues were only budgeted for six months of Fiscal Year 2006/2007.
The manager went on to present individual department highlights (i.e. legislative, legal, planning, general services, law enforcement, fire and emergency services, protective services, and public works). The budget anticipated increased legal fees and planning expenditures as well as funding for a visioning process and development of an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) related to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The budget also included the creation of a new position to provide code enforcement, building plan review and inspection services at an annual salary of $45,000.
Other budget highlights included the recommendation that all positions receive a salary at not less than the minimum of the market range as developed by a survey conducted by the town manager. In some cases where employees had seniority, they would be placed at the appropriate level of the range to recognize their years of service. This recommendation came at a cost of approximately $40,000. Should the proposed pay plan be adopted, it was with the understanding that cost of living and merit increases would not be paid during Fiscal Year 2006/2007. The proposed budget also proposed a change in the retirement plan to the Florida Retirement System for general government employees. Law enforcement personnel would continue in their existing local law pension plan.
Other initiatives for the Commission’s consideration included a review of fees for building plan review and inspections, revisions to the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, establishing liaisons to the Town’s advisory boards, annexations as a means to increase the Town’s tax base, and stormwater/street improvements.
Town Manager Bursick thanked his
staff for their input into development of the proposed budget and particularly
commended Town Accountant Jane Antonsen for her invaluable assistance and
expertise. Individual commission members commended the town manager on an excellent
budget message.
Commissioner Price moved to set a tentative millage rate for Fiscal Year 2006/2007 for operating purposes at 2.6331 mills which was 9.9967 percent over the rolled-back rate of 2.3938 mills. Vice-Mayor Wilson seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
In addition, the Town Commission needed to set the voted debt millage rate for the public library. This millage rate for the prior fiscal year (2005/2006) was .1778. The proposed voted debt millage rate for Fiscal Year 2006/2007 was .1477. This rate represented the amount necessary to pay the principal and interest on the outstanding bond for the ensuing year.
Commissioner Guglietta felt that if this millage rate was to remain the same as the previous fiscal year (i.e. 1.778 mills), as opposed to decreasing it, that the outstanding debt could be paid off sooner. Commissioner Walters also felt this was a good idea. Speaking from the audience, Nancy Ciummo, provided an historical perspective on the voter-approved debt on the library.
Commissioner Price moved to set a tentative millage rate for Fiscal Year 2006/2007 for voted debt on the public library at .1477 mills. Commissioner Walters seconded the motion and it carried with Commissioners Guglietta and Walters voting no.
Next, it was necessary for the
Town Commission to set the dates for public hearings on the proposed budget.
Town Manager Bursick recommended that the first public hearing on the tentative
budget and millage be scheduled for
Commissioner Guglietta moved to set the first public hearing on the
tentative budget and millage rate for
Budget workshops were scheduled
for
As to the budget generally, Commissioner Walters wanted to be sure that the salary survey prepared by the manager took into account years of service for the positions examined. Town Manager Bursick advised that he used market ranges rather than actual salaries. Nancy Ciummo did not feel that an annual salary of $40,000 was within market for a town clerk.
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The meeting adjourned at
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William G. Stacey, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Karan J. Rounsavall
Interim Town Clerk