09-21-2016 Minutes - Final Public Budget Hearing CITY OF OCOEE
FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
Ocoee Commission Chambers
September 21,2016 MINUTES 6:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER-6:01 PM
Roll Call and Determination of Quorum
Mayor Johnson called the final budget hearing to order at 6:01 p.m. in the Commission
Chambers of City Hall. City Clerk Sibbitt called roll and declared a quorum present.
Roll Call: Commissioner Grogan, Commissioner Wilsen, Mayor Johnson, Commissioner
Firstner and Commissioner Keller.
Announcement by Mayor Johnson
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 6_5
mils, which represents a 14.42% increase in millage over the rolled-back rate of 5.6808 mils.
The adopted tentative millage rate is the maximum millage rate, which may be adopted by the
City Commission at the Final Budget Public Hearing tonight.
II. PUBLIC HEARING - 6:01 PM
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.
The proposed operating budgets for the City of Ocoee for FY 2017 total $68,204,030. The
proposed General Fund budget is $42,033,535. Ad Valorem taxes are being assessed to provide
funding for: operational expenses, capital purchases, debt service payments, and salaries
necessary to provide municipal services to the citizens and businesses of Ocoee. The
commission approved a tentative millage rate for FY 2017 of 6.5 mils. This rate is higher than
the rolled-back rate of 5.6808 and represents an increase in the millage over the rolled-back rate
of 14.42%. The tentative millage rate generates about $1,616,020 more in revenues than the
rolled-back rate. Of this amount $1,363,605 is undesignated and has been placed in the
contingency account. Adoption of the 6.5 mils requires a majority vote by the commission.
Items that were discussed with no action taken during the tentative budget hearing are itemized
on the unfunded list for further consideration.
a) Comments by Citizens. 6:03 PM
Chris Atkins, 606 Ridgefield Avenue, shared his personal concerns on several items in the
budget and asked for clarification on the expenditures and revenues for the Founders' Day event.
Finance Director Horton explained the Founders' Day expenditures and shared the pages in the
budget book where that is shown. Mayor Johnson briefly explained the donations that are
Final Budget Public Hearing
September 21,2016
collected for the Founders' Day event that helps pay back the money the City contributes.
Further discussion ensued regarding funds that are in reserve and how that is budgeted.
b) Comments by Commissioners. 6:14 PM
Commissioner Grogan said the only thing he would like to have moved forward into the budget
is the priority based budgeting ($47,500); he is fine with the rest of the budget. Commissioner
Wilsen inquired about the quality performance audit ($15,000) and if that is being considered. It
was explained that the quality performance audit was approved at the last public hearing and is
included in the budget. Commissioner Wilsen inquired how many audits could be done with the
money budgeted and would it cover just a specific department. Commissioner Grogan
explained that an audit could cover a variety of aspects within the City and would not have to be
specific to a department. He further shared his knowledge of quality performance audits.
Commissioner Wilsen advised she does not have any other questions at the moment.
Commissioner Firstner inquired if all the items listed on the proposed balanced budget millage
rate are currently included in the budget. It was answered affirmatively. Commissioner Firstner
said he would like to consider moving forward into the budget fire station improvements
($40,000). He further shared that he believes that would allow the City to locate an engine on the
Northwest end of the City limits. He opined that having the construction of a new fire station
considered in the bond issue is a great start.
Commissioner Keller said that last night at the Regular Commission Meeting there was a
discussion on the money that they have budgeted for the Community Grants. This is a discussion
that comes up every year, because many applicants are not from the City of Ocoee. He would
like for the Commission to consider dropping that grant program and taking that money and
putting it into the MVP Grant Program, which would still allow for them to give back to the
community. Mayor Johnson shared that he would prefer putting the money into a small
business initiative that would help new businesses that want to open up around downtown.
Mayor Johnson shared that he likes the priority based budgeting suggested by Commissioner
Grogan, but he would prefer moving forward into the budget the $40,000 for the fire station
improvements,because he does not want to move the millage rate above 5.9 mils. Referring back
to the grant money discussion, the Mayor shared that he would like to keep the MVP Grant
Program for the HOA's and rotate it so that it is not the same group receiving the money.
c) Motions by Commissioners for amendments to the proposed tentative budget. 6:25 PM
Motion: Move to amend the tentative budqet to remove the $1,363,605 from the
contingency fund; Moved by Commissioner Keller, seconded by Commissioner
Grogan. Motion carried 5-0.
Final Budget Public Hearing
September 21, 2016
Motion: Move to amend the tentative budget to add $40,000 for Fire Station
Improvements; Moved by Commissioner Firstner, seconded by Commissioner
Keller. Motion carried 5-0.
Finance Manager Brosonski advised this would bring the millage rate to 5.829 mils.
Motion: Move to amend the tentative budget to add $50,000 to Contingency Fund;
Moved by Commissioner Wilsen. Motion died due to lack of second.
After all amendments are completed, announcement by Director of Finance of the
proposed final millage rate and the percent by which the proposed millage rate exceeds the
rolled-back rate. This percentage is the proposed final percentage increase in property
taxes.
Finance Manager Brosonski announced that the proposed final millage rate is 5.8291 and the
percent by which the proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled-back rate is 2.61%. This
percentage is the proposed final percentage increase in property taxes.
1. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-010, setting final millage rate.
City Attorney Cookson read the title of the ordinance.
The ordinance as adopted carries the following title:
ORDINANCE NO.2016-010
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A
FINAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.8291 MILS FOR AD VALOREM TAXES FOR
THE CITY OF OCOEE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,
2016, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017; PROVIDING FOR MILLAGE
ADJUSTMENT; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF TAXES; PROVIDING
FOR 2.61% IN MILLAGE RATE OVER THE ROLLED-BACK RATE;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. No comments were made so a vote
was taken.
Motion: Move to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-010, setting a final millage rate of
5.8291 mils for Fiscal Year 2016-2017; Moved by Commissioner Keller, seconded
by Commissioner Wilsen. Motion carried 5-0.
Final Budget Public Hearing
September 21,2016
2. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-011, adopting final budget.
City Attorney Cookson read the title of the ordinance.
The ordinance as adopted carries the following title:
ORDINANCE NO.2016-011
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
ADOPTING A FINAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2016, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
Mayor Johnson opened the floor for comments by citizens. No comments were made so a vote
was taken.
Motion: Move to adopt Ordinance No. 2016-011, approving a final budget for the
Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2016 and ending September 30, 2017; Moved by
Commissioner Keller, Seconded by Commissioner Wilsen. Motion passed 5-0.
III. ADJOURNMENT - 6:33 PM
APPROVED:
Attest: City of Ocoee
/ / Vii'
A. .� .�
Melanie Sib itt, City Clerk Rusty Jo n.on Mayor