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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-2021 Minutes OCOEE CITY'CO1VIMISSION TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING Ocoee Commission Chambers September 15, 2021 MINUTES 6:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER- 601 PM 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 led by Commissioner Firstner. 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 Absent: Commissioner Oliver Also Present: City Manager Frank, City Attorney Cookson, City Clerk Sibbitt, and Finance Director Roberts II TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING A. Mayor's Announcement- 6:02 PM 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 5.15 mills which represents a 3.25% increase in millage over the rolled-back rate of 4.9879 mills. B. Briefing by City Attorney - 6:03 PM City Attorney Cookson announced the preliminary millage rate set by the City Commission and contained in the TRIM Notice is 5.15 mills. The maximum millage rate, which may be levied by the City by regular majority vote for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, is 7.1534 mills, such maximum millage rate having been determined pursuant to Section 200.185(3)(a), Florida Statutes. The establishment of a millage rate between 7.1535 mills and 7.8687 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 7.8688 mills and 10.000 mills requires a unanimous vote of the City Commission. Additionally, any millage rate adopted above the preliminary millage rate of 5.15 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. Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 15,2021 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. 6:04 PM Chief Accountant Pierre explained the additional pages placed on the dais for the City Commission to review. She further stated, at the request of the City Commission at the Budget Workshop, the ad valorem rate was adjusted to 5.05 mills. Street Operations was adjusted to include $10,000 for blinking lighted speed signs, and $12,000 for a speed table at Geneva Road. She announced that Finance also adjusted the budget to include revenues of$24,172,698 from the American Rescue Plan Act. An offsetting expenditure was also budgeted within Capital Projects as a placeholder until the City arrives at a spending plan for those funds. She announced the total budget for FY 2021/2022 is $121,480,457, which includes the General Fund, the Utilities Fund, the Stormwater Fund,the Water and Sewer Fund,the Solid Waste Fund, and the Impact Fee Funds. The total General Fund Budget is$78,712,989 and is balanced at 5.0500 mills, which is .10 mills lower than the tentative millage rate approved by the Commission, or $342,755. The tentative rate of 5.15 mills is the same as the current millage rate of 5.15 mills, and is .1621 mills higher than the roll-back rate totaling $555,606 (3.2%). The difference between 5.05 mills and the roll-back rate is .0621 mills, $212,851, or 1.25%. Ad valorem taxes are used to finance City operations which includes providing quality services,maintaining City infrastructure through Capital Projects, and funding salaries for City employees as required to provide those services. i1.. ; Comments.by;Citizens- 6 07 PM __-_-__-- Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. The public hearing was opened. No speaker forms were received, the public hearing was closed. 22 Comments by Commissioners-6.07 P1 Commissioner Brinson inquired if staff has addressed enterprise software for the City. Finance Director Roberts addressed his question. He further shared he has heard building supplies are low and inquired if that would affect the new city hall or any other projects. Utilities Director Croteau explained it will have minor impact as most of the products have been purchased. Commissioner Brinson inquired if sidewalk construction was included in the budget. Public Works Director Krug addressed his question and explained there is funding for sidewalk replacement. He further inquired if the funding of the light for Ingram Road was included in the budget. City Manager Frank answered in the affirmative and explained the funding will be within impact fees. Mayor Johnson inquired when the Ingram Road sidewalk installation was going to be completed. Public Works Director Krug explained the sidewalks will be installed after the lighting on Ingram Road is installed. Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 15,2021 Commissioner Brinson inquired about the$50,000 funding shown on page 69.Finance Director Roberts addressed his question. He further asked the Finance Director if she could explain the Budgeted and Historical 2022 Revenues by Source on page 142. Finance Director Roberts addressed his question and explained the graph. Brief discussion ensued about the water and waste water revenue as well as the funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Commissioner Brinson inquired if the road impact fund was healthy and what needs are being addressed in the City. Finance Director Roberts addressed his question and explained the restrictions on that fund source. City Manger Frank explained the most recent expenditure they will use road impact funds for is the last segment of the Clark Road expansion. Commissioner Brinson concluded by thanking staff for their team efforts on establishing the budget. Commissioner Wilsen thanked the City Manager and City staff for a great budget. She shared the budget encompasses the City as a whole, and not just a single district. She listed several projects that have received grant funding that will benefit all the residents. Commissioner Firstner thanked all the Department Directors and the Finance team for putting together a great budget. He shared his gratitude with the new format of the budget books. Mayor Johnson thanked staff for running the City efficiently and shared his contentment with the salary increase being proposed for the employees. City Manager Frank thanked the City Commission and reminded them that in addition to the 3.5%,the budget also includes funding for the employees in the three lowest tiers to bring them toward the $15.00 minimum range. 3. ,Mofions by Commissioners for amendments to the proposed tentative budget No amendments were made to the proposed tentative budget. 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). City Manager Frank advised the millage rate was set at 5.15 mills; however, at the request of the City Commission at the Budget Workshop, the ad valorem rate was adjusted to 5.05 mills. The City Commission can adjust the millage rate to reflect that request. Finance Director Roberts announced that there were no amendments to the proposed tentative budget;therefore, the millage rate is 5.05 mills and the percentage is a 1.25 % increase in millage over the rolled-back rate. J. Comments by Citizens , I I Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. The public hearing was opened. No speaker forms were received, the public hearing was closed. 3IPage Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 15, 2021 2 Comments by Commissioners None E. Motion to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rate- 6:30 PM City Attorney Cookson read the title of the ordinance. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE of 5.05 MILLS FOR AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF OCOEE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,2021,AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022; PROVIDING FOR MILLAGE ADJUSTMENT; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF TAXES; PROVIDING FOR 1.25% 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 5.05 mills for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021, and ending September 30, 2022, providing for 1.25% increase in the millage rate over the rolled-back rate; Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, seconded by Commissioner Firstner. Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Oliver absent. F. Motion to Adopt the Tentative Budget- 6:31 PM 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 1,2021,AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022;PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2021, and ending September 30, 2022; Moved by Commissioner Firstner, seconded by Commissioner Brinson. Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Oliver absent. Mayor Johnson announced the public hearing to consider the final millage rate, and final budget, is scheduled to be held Wednesday, September 22, 2021,at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Commission Chambers. 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. Tentative Budget Public Hearing September 15, 2021 City Manager Frank explained there was additional funding the City Commission did not discuss use for, which can be placed into the Contingency Fund. The consensus of the City Commission present, was to place the additional funds into Contingency. L. OJOURN1VIENT . _ The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 PM. APPROVED: Attest: City of Ocoee _ Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk Rusty John , ayor _ - 5jPage •