Council sets budget and plans wish list
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council breezed through its final budgetary hearings and set its final millage rate for tax year 2010 and total budget for the fiscal year 2010-11 during its regular meeting Monday evening. Beforehand, in a morning work session, the council members discussed their respective Beach re-nourishment redistribution ‘wish lists,’ then scheduled some of those items for agenda management planning sessions.
Council unanimously approved a millage rate of 0.9144 mils and a total budget of $17,675,894 for ad valorem taxes. The millage rate is an increase from 2009’s 0.8187 mils which means the town will collect less money in total taxes than last year, according to Town Manager Terry Stewart.
“This final millage rate will work in conjunction with our budget,” he said. “This is a step down from the 1.0 mil that you proposed as your original tentative millage rate. This is a result of many months of good solid work by town staff and this town council. I think we’ve actually come down to the tune of some $800,000.”
The council members were in agreement.
“I want to thank our town manager and financial director,” said Vice Mayor Bob Raymond. “Last year, the budget they put together was an award-winning budget and so is the one they submitted this year.”
Unlike the multitude of public questions bombarding the FMB Board of Fire Commissioners during their final budget hearing earlier in the evening, the Beach Town Council received no combative public comment on its budgetary process.
“It’s almost a concern to not have the room full of people,” said Councilman Tom Babcock. “We recognize the weaknesses even with this budget. I want to thank my cohorts down the line for recognizing that we need to start today to work for next year.”
During their morning work session, the council members shared their wish lists on how to allocate the $1.25 million accumulated from the Beach re-nourishment fund. Roughly $110,000 of it is designated for the upcoming North Estero Beach Restoration project and $50,000 is expected to go toward balancing the town budget.
The recognition of the combined lists included setting money aside for such projects as new Beach shoreline technologies and practices; future town hall location; Mound House completion; water utility funding; Seafarer’s property ownership; canal dredging fund; town staff bonuses; short-term rentals; a van and another full-time staff position for Bay Oaks; Beach Stewardship; storm water management; 2011-12 budget; capital reserves; and general funds for one-time expenditures.
Mayor Larry Kiker argued for implementing a business plan for many of the discussed projects. The items were shifted to the council’s agenda management.
“In essence, these are capital dollars that were set aside,” said Town Manager Terry Stewart. “We should think long and hard before we have a one-time funding source and start treating costs from one year to the next. I would think that if we are going to look at spending capital dollars for anything, we look strongly on those items on the CIP (capital improvement plan).”
Council members weighed in on the matter.
“It’s really kind of insulting to sit on all this money,” said Councilwoman Jo List. “It would be respectful for us to find some real use for some of this money.”
“We do have a responsibility here,” echoed Councilman Alan Mandel.
“Some of these projects are so important that we’re going to have to address them this year,” said Vice Mayor Bob Raymond.
“I see the struggle that this council and previous councils have gone through where we have these enormous projects,” said Kiker. “And, we haven’t raised our spending rate or our access collection on tax dollars to other projects.”
“What we are starting today is a development of our CIP and designing a plan,” said Babcock. “We have an opportunity to channel these funds for the future.”
During agenda management scheduling, the council members discussed bringing some of the surrounding communities together to compare tax structures.
“We need to benchmark ourselves against other communities,” said Mandel.
Council sets budget and plans wish list
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council breezed through its final budgetary hearings and set its final millage rate for tax year 2010 and total budget for the fiscal year 2010-11 during its regular meeting Monday evening. Beforehand, in a morning work session, the council members discussed their respective Beach re-nourishment redistribution ‘wish lists,’ then scheduled some of those items for agenda management planning sessions.
Council unanimously approved a millage rate of 0.9144 mils and a total budget of $17,675,894 for ad valorem taxes. The millage rate is an increase from 2009’s 0.8187 mils which means the town will collect less money in total taxes than last year, according to Town Manager Terry Stewart.
“This final millage rate will work in conjunction with our budget,” he said. “This is a step down from the 1.0 mil that you proposed as your original tentative millage rate. This is a result of many months of good solid work by town staff and this town council. I think we’ve actually come down to the tune of some $800,000.”
The council members were in agreement.
“I want to thank our town manager and financial director,” said Vice Mayor Bob Raymond. “Last year, the budget they put together was an award-winning budget and so is the one they submitted this year.”
Unlike the multitude of public questions bombarding the FMB Board of Fire Commissioners during their final budget hearing earlier in the evening, the Beach Town Council received no combative public comment on its budgetary process.
“It’s almost a concern to not have the room full of people,” said Councilman Tom Babcock. “We recognize the weaknesses even with this budget. I want to thank my cohorts down the line for recognizing that we need to start today to work for next year.”
During their morning work session, the council members shared their wish lists on how to allocate the $1.25 million accumulated from the Beach re-nourishment fund. Roughly $110,000 of it is designated for the upcoming North Estero Beach Restoration project and $50,000 is expected to go toward balancing the town budget.
The recognition of the combined lists included setting money aside for such projects as new Beach shoreline technologies and practices; future town hall location; Mound House completion; water utility funding; Seafarer’s property ownership; canal dredging fund; town staff bonuses; short-term rentals; a van and another full-time staff position for Bay Oaks; Beach Stewardship; storm water management; 2011-12 budget; capital reserves; and general funds for one-time expenditures.
Mayor Larry Kiker argued for implementing a business plan for many of the discussed projects. The items were shifted to the council’s agenda management.
“In essence, these are capital dollars that were set aside,” said Town Manager Terry Stewart. “We should think long and hard before we have a one-time funding source and start treating costs from one year to the next. I would think that if we are going to look at spending capital dollars for anything, we look strongly on those items on the CIP (capital improvement plan).”
Council members weighed in on the matter.
“It’s really kind of insulting to sit on all this money,” said Councilwoman Jo List. “It would be respectful for us to find some real use for some of this money.”
“We do have a responsibility here,” echoed Councilman Alan Mandel.
“Some of these projects are so important that we’re going to have to address them this year,” said Vice Mayor Bob Raymond.
“I see the struggle that this council and previous councils have gone through where we have these enormous projects,” said Kiker. “And, we haven’t raised our spending rate or our access collection on tax dollars to other projects.”
“What we are starting today is a development of our CIP and designing a plan,” said Babcock. “We have an opportunity to channel these funds for the future.”
During agenda management scheduling, the council members discussed bringing some of the surrounding communities together to compare tax structures.
“We need to benchmark ourselves against other communities,” said Mandel.