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Home My WebLink About09-09-2020 MinutesOCOEE CITY COMMISSION TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING Ocoee Commission Chambers September 9, 2020 MINUTES 6:00 P.M. L CALL TO ORDER A. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Johnson called the regular session to order at 6:00 PM in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. The invocation was led by Mayor Johnson followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. B. Roll Call and Determination of Quorum City Clerk Sibbitt called roll and declared a quorum present. Present: Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Brinson, Commissioner Wilsen, Commissioner Firstner, Commissioner Oliver Also Present: City Manager Frank, City Attorney Cookson, City Clerk Sibbitt, and Finance Director Roberts Mayor Johnson announced the following, "Due to COVID-19 City Hall is closed to the public and is subject to change based on the Governor's Executive Order. The public may attend through electronic media by watching live on Spectrum Channel 493 with a live stream at www.ocoee.org. Any interested party is invited to offer comments and/or questions during the hearing by emailing citizens@ocoee.org or calling 407-554-7118." IL PUBLIC HEARING A. Mayor's Announcement Mayor Johnson announced this is a public hearing on the tentative budget and proposed millage rate for the City of Ocoee. Notice of this hearing was contained in the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes mailed by the Property Appraiser. The City Commission has previously set a proposed millage rate of 5.25 mills which represents a 4.77% increase in millage over the rolled -back rate of 5.0108 mills. B. Briefing by City Attorney City Attorney Cookson announced the preliminary millage rate set by the City Commission is 5.25 mills. The preliminary millage rate contained in the TRIM Notice was incorrectly listed as 5_5 mills, which is higher than the preliminary millage rate set by the City Commission. The maximum millage rate, which may be levied by the City by regular majority vote for the 2020- 2021 fiscal year, is 6.9836 mills, such maximum millage rate having been determined pursuant to Section 200.185(3)(a), Florida Statutes. The establishment of a millage rate between 6.9837 mills and 7.6820 mills requires a two-thirds vote (super majority) of the membership of the City Commission (or 4 votes). The establishment of a millage rate between 7.6821 mills and 10.000 Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 9, 2020 mills requires a unanimous vote of the City Commission. Additionally, any millage rate adopted above the preliminary millage rate of 5.25 mills would require notice by first class mail to each taxpayer. The tentative millage rate adopted at this hearing will become the maximum millage rate which may be adopted by the City Commission at the public hearing on the final millage rate. A unanimous vote or a two-thirds vote may be required to adopt the tentative millage rate as the final millage rate. At the final public hearing, the City Commission may adopt a millage rate which is less than the tentative millage rate. C. Briefing by Finance Director: Review of additions/deletions to the budget since distribution, the percentage increase in millage over the rolled -back rate necessary to fund the budget and the specific purpose for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased. Finance Director Roberts announced that the total appropriations for FY 2020/2021 are $85,175,249, and there have been no material adjustments to the budget subsequent to the budget workshop. The total General Fund budget is $52,907,051 and is balanced at 5.15 mills which is .1 mill lower than the tentative millage rate approved by the City Commission. The tentative rate of 5.25 mills is the same as the current millage rate of 5.25 mills and is .2392 mills higher than the roll -back rate. The difference between 5.15 mills and the roll -back rate is .1392 mills, $441,631, or 2.78%. Ad valorem taxes are used to finance City operations to include providing quality services, maintaining City infrastructure through Capital Projects, and funding salaries for City employees as required to provide those services. The increase in ad -valorem revenues over 2020 will be used to offset anticipated reductions in other revenue sources resulting from the impacts of COV1D-19. :1. Comments by Citizens Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. The public hearing was opened. No speaker reservation forms, telephone calls, or emails were received, the public hearing was closed. 2. Comments by Commissioners Commissioner Wilsen commented that all her questions were addressed at the budget workshop. She further thanked City staff for bringing the millage rate down to 5.15 mills, especially during these trying times. Commissioner Oliver echoed Commissioner Wilsen's comments. 3. Motions by Commissioners for amendments to the proposed tentative budget No amendments were made to the proposed tentative budget. 21 Page Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 9, 2020 D. Announcement by Finance Director of the recomputed proposed millage rate and the percent by which the recomputed proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled -back rate. This percentage is the proposed tentative percentage increase in property taxes. Announcement regarding the vote required to adopt this millage rate (Regular Majority, Super Majority, or Unanimous). Finance Director Roberts announced that there were no amendments to the proposed tentative budget so the millage rate and the percentage remains as she previously presented. 1. Comments by Citizens Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. The public hearing was opened. No speaker reservation forms, telephone calls, or emails were received, the public hearing was closed. 2. Comments by Commissioners - None E. Motion to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rate City Attorney Cookson read the title of the ordinance. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE of 5.25 MILLS FOR AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF OCOEE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2020, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021; PROVIDING FOR MILLAGE ADJUSTMENT; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF TAXES; PROVIDING FOR 4.77% INCREASE IN MILLAGE RATE OVER THE ROLLED -BACK RATE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Motion: Move that the City Commission adopt the tentative millage rate at 5.15 mills for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, and ending September 30, 2021, providing for 2.78% increase in the millage rate over the rolled -back rate; Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, seconded by Commissioner Oliver. Motion carried 5-0. F. Motion to Adopt the Tentative Budget City Attorney Cookson read the title of the ordinance. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2020, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 31Piige Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 9, 2020 Motion: Move that the City Commission adopt the tentative budget as distributed along with the revisions resulting from the Budget Workshop and as amended at this Tentative Budget Public Hearing tonight for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, and ending September 30, 2021; Moved by Commissioner Oliver, seconded by Commissioner Brinson. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Johnson announced the public hearing to consider the final millage rate and final budget is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 6:00 PM to be held in the City Hall Commission Chambers. However, due to the Governor's Executive Order, the meeting will be closed to the public. Go to www.Ocoee.org to find out how to attend the meeting and submit comments and/or questions electronically or by phone. The hearing has been advertised in accordance with the provisions of Section 200.065, Florida Statutes, and Section C-37 of Article VI of the Ocoee City Charter. The appropriate Ordinances necessary to adopt the Final Millage Rate and Final Budget will be prepared by City staff, and all other action necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 200.065, Florida Statutes, will be undertaken. Mayor Johnson thanked all City staff and the City Commission for doing a great job during this COVID-19 Pandemic. HL; ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 PM. Attest: C Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk APPROVED: City of Ocoee 1 �1T Mayor 41 Page