HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-24-2007 Final Budget Public Hearing
CITY OF OCOEE
FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
Ocoee Commission Chambers
September 24, 2007 AGENDA 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Vandergrift
Mayor Vandergrift called the Final Budget Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers of City Hall. City Clerk Eikenberry called roll and declared a quorum
present.
Mayor Vandergrift announced that this is an advertised public hearing to finalize the budget and
adopt a final millage rate for the City of Ocoee. The City Commission has previously approved a
tentative millage rate of 4.6251 mills which represents a 7.7546% increase in millage over the
rolled-back rate of 4.2923 mills.
Roll Call: Commissioner Hood, Commissioner Anderson, Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioner
Keller, and Commissioner Johnson.
Also Present:
City Attorney Rosenthal, City Manager Frank, City Clerk Eikenberry
II. PUBLIC HEARING
Summary of Legislative Action.
City Attorney Rosenthal said the maximum millage rate which may be levied by the City by
regular majority vote for the 2007-2008 fiscal year is 4.077 mills, such maximum millage rate
having been determined pursuant to Section 200.185(3)(a), Florida Statutes. This is part of the
amendment package adopted by the 2007 Florida Legislature. This maximum millage rate may be
increased to the rolled-back rate of 4.2923 mills by a two-thirds vote of the City Commission.
The establishment of a millage rate between 4.0778 mills and 4.2923 mills requires a two-thirds
vote of the City Commission. This maximum millage rate may be increased to the non-voted
millage rate that was levied in the 2006-2007 fiscal year by a unanimous vote of the city
commission, such rate being 4.6251 mills, as reduced at the Tentative Budget and Millage
Hearing. The establishment of a millage rate between 4.2924 mills and 4.6251 mills requires a
unanimous vote of the City Commission.
A. Briefing by Director of Finance on the percentage increase in millage under the roll-backed
rate necessary to fund the budget and the specific purpose for which ad valorem tax revenues
are being increased.
Finance Director Horton advised that the percentage increase in millage over the roll-backed
rate that is necessary to fund the proposed budget is 7.7546; ad valorem tax revenues are being
increased by $770,573.00 to provide funding for operating expenses and programs, capital
improvements, and the purchase of equipment and vehicles.
1. Comments by Citizens.
Mayor Vandergrift opened the Public Hearing. There were no comments at this time.
Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting
September 24, 2007
2. Comments by Commissioners.
The Mayor’s proposed reductions.
Mayor Vandergrift said the Commission has before them a proposal that he made that only
requires a super majority vote, not a unanimous vote. He said in his model, no personnel
positions are deleted; some positions are being held until mid year; new programs were cut and
capital programs were cut. He said the Governor, who put us in this position, is having a
shortfall in the state budget but they are not cutting programs, they want the cities to make all
of the sacrifices.
City Manager Frank clarified that there two handouts before them, the one in the portrait
mode is the new one that is being suggested by the Mayor. The handout in the landscape mode
is the one showing where they left off after the last tentative budget session.
Commissioner Hood asked for clarification on the spreadsheet as far as items that were zeroed
out. City Manager Frank said that the “0”s on the spreadsheet meant there was no reduction
recommended with what has been presented at the previous meetings.
City Manager Frank also corrected two errors on the spread sheet:
The item for Central Park should show a reduction of $200,000, not $100,000 as shown (taking
it from the proposal of $300,000 to $100,000).
The item for the road paving program should show a reduction to $100,000 (not $200,000 as
shown)
Commissioner Hood clarified that the Christmas Light Decorations have no reduction and
remain at the $40,000 that was proposed.
Commissioner Anderson said if we are looking at wants vs. needs, we should compare the
money for Holiday Lights vs. paving jobs and Central Park repairs that we are cutting.
City Manager Frank clarified that the $40,000 is the pay for rental of the holiday decorations.
Mayor Vandergrift stated that some of the paving can be moved to next year.
Commission Hood asked why the soccer field money is cut. City Manager Frank said we
had a $75,000 matching field of Dreams grand, but the County is not doing the grant program
this year, so that can be removed from the budget.
Commissioner Hood asked questioned the proposal to have OGTV only have live coverage for
the Commission Meetings.
Commissioner Keller said the list includes many items that the Commission should consider
cutting, they are not suggesting the Commission cuts everything on the list. We need to look at
the items and decide where to make the cuts. He said he is concerned about putting off
infrastructure issues such as the road paving because we may have less money next year to work
with. He asked if we really need to spend $240,000 for the clinic this year when we have
pressing infrastructure issues. Discussion pursued regarding the savings in the cost of health
care that could be realized from the clinic.
Commissioner Anderson asked about the formula 7:16 pm
City Attorney Rosenthal said that there is already a new formula for next year so we know
what that will be, assuming that the legislature makes no more changes. In the statute, they
enacted special procedures for 2008-2009, which you calculate the maximum millage rate,
which is the roll back rate
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Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting
September 24, 2007
3. Motions by Commissioners for amendments to the proposed tentative budget.
NOTE: RECESS to recompute the proposed millage rate and rolled-back percentage increase, if
required.
B. Announcement by Director of Finance of the recomputed proposed final millage rate
and the percent by which the recomputed proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled-
back rate. This percentage is the proposed final percentage increase in property taxes.
1. Motion to adopt Ordinance setting final millage rate.
a. Comments by Citizens
b. Comments by Commissioners
c. Vote on motion to adopt Ordinance setting the final millage rate.
2. Motion to adopt Ordinance adopting final budget.
a. Comments by Citizens.
b. Comments by Commissioners.
c. Vote on motion to adopt Ordinance adopting the final budget.
C. Announcement by Mayor Vandergrift of end of budget public hearing.
III. ADJOURNMENT
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