07-14-2009 Workshop Meeting•
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MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE
FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
The Miami Shores Village Council met on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 to conduct their Fiscal
Year 2009-2010 Budget Workshop. The Workshop was called to order at the C. Lawton
McCaII Community Center at 6:00 PM with the following members present:
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Al Davis
Donald Shockey
Herta Holly
Steve Loffredo
Prospero Herrera
Tom Benton, Village Manager
Barbara Estep, Village Clerk
Lisa Keeley, Carolyne Modeste, and
Holly Hugdahl, from the Finance Department
Mayor Davis called the Workshop Meeting to order, reviewed a number of procedural
issues related to the meeting format, and then introduced Mr. Benton, who offered
introductory remarks that had been contained in the Budget Message. Mr. Benton
spoke of the difficulty in developing the budget, as property values declined over 14%,
equating to close to a $1 million shortfall in project tax revenues. Mr. Benton indicated
that the budget document represented a balanced budget, with a General Fund budget
of $12,066,785. Mr. Benton stated that the Sanitation and Stormwater fees will remain
at the current levels for the new fiscal year beginning October 1, 2009.
Mr. Benton reviewed the Village's revenue projections and responded to Council
questions regarding the stated projections.
The Village Council reviewed the following individual Departmental Budgets, with Mr.
Benton and the Department Heads advising the Council of the various budget cuts and
program changes made within their respective budgets and responded to questions
posed by the Council Members. There were no suggested amendments made to the
presented budgets.
Planning & Zoning
Building Department
Code Enforcement
Library
Recreation
Police Department
Public Works
Mayor & Council
Village Attorney
Village Clerk
Finance Department
Village Manager
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At the conclusion of the departmental reviews, Council Members debated whether or not
to propose a tax increase in order to save money for what is forecasted to be another
year of double digit property tax value declines. Mr. Benton had provided the Council
with anticipated revenues associated with each up -tick of the millage rate. Individual
Council Members argued their opinions and views. Mr. Loffredo and Mr. Herrera
indicated that they would rather wait and see what next year brings and raise the
millage to whatever is necessary at that time. Mr. Shockey, Mrs. Holly and Mayor Davis
agreed that spreading an increase over two years would be easier for property owners
to financially handle. Although Mr. Shockey, Mrs. Holly and Mayor Davis initially
disagreed upon the amount to increase the millage, a consensus was reached prior to
the conclusion of the meeting. The consensus of the Council was to propose a millage
rate of 8.0. Mr. Loffredo and Mr. Herrera did not agree with any millage increase.
A discussion ensued regarding funding a fireworks display for next fiscal year.
Additional revenues in the amount of approximately $45,000 is expected from the
Simplified Telecommunications Tax. Mr. Benton had suggested funding the fireworks
from the additional revenue realized, and using the remaining funds to pay for
necessary repairs on the Village's antiquated computer network. Following the
discussion amongst the Council, it was decided to add the fireworks into the proposed
budget but the remaining revenue should be placed in the contingency account.
The Council thanked the staff for their work in preparing the budget document.
The Council Budget Workshop on the proposed Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Operating Budget
was adjourned at 8:10 PM.
Barbara A. Estep, MMC
Village Clerk
Al Davis, Mayor