Fire board adopts tentative budget numbers
After listening to a presentation by its district staff and taking public input, the Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners took a positive step towards setting its 2011/12 budget by unanimously approving the proposed millage rate and budget in a public hearing Friday evening.
The FMB Fire District adopted a tentative millage rate of 2.5820 mils -0.0020 higher than the current millage rate- and a budget of $13,524,034 before a small crowd of Beach residents at Town Hall. The proposed millage rate is lower than the Truth in Millage Rate (TRIM) of 2.6900 mils set in late July and the lowered rate of 2.677 mils discussed at a Sept. 6 budget workshop.
Unlike last year at this time when several people voiced their displeasure with the budget numbers, only three islanders offered public opinion once Fire Chief Mike Becker broke down budgetary figures, explained the process and showed slides of various financial comparisons from the current fiscal year to the next.
Becker explained the budget approval process involves accumulating data throughout the year for analysis then for review in July for budget preparation. Since the Sept. 6 budget workshop, fire officials had removed $277,027 from the budget to lower the millage rate. The bulk of that total decrease in budget ($240,800) dealt with paid personal leave buyouts/ buy downs and lump sum payments as well as taxes and benefits of those line items.
The fire chief then compared the District’s financial status to past years. He provided a snapshot of the taxable base from 2008 to present
“Over time, we’ve experienced a 37 percent devaluation of our property values. It is very evident that everything has to be based off of these type of conditions that we are currently facing,” said Becker.
The proposed budget showed total revenue of $8,164,034, mostly from Ad Valorem taxes and an increased amount in Charges for Services (ambulance fees), added to the $5,360,000 fund balance carried forward. The total operating expenditures totaled $8,660,434. A designated fund balance (reserves) of $4,863,600 was added to equal the revenue side of $13,524,034.
During public input, the points brought forth were “get control of your labor cost,” a concern about the millage rate and a proposed suggestion to add voluntary firefighters to the staff. It was stated that labor issues are difficult to resolve due to ongoing union negotiations.
“We are looking into other things to continue to cut costs,” said Fire Commission Chair Carol Morris. “The budget is not necessarily going to represent what we end up spending. We will continue to look at ways to cut costs.”
The approved tentative millage is less than the roll back rate of 2.6919 mils.
“The bottom line is that you have a 4.08 percent reduction as compared to the roll back rate,” said FMB Fire Attorney Richard Pringle when reading off the resolution.
Some commissioners commented on the budget cycle just before setting the tentative rates. The 2010-11 and current millage rate is 2.5800 mils.
“I’m just happy we are stopping the gerrymandering of rates. I just don’t care for the whole system where the taxing body changes the rates in response to the assessor changing the value,” said Commissioner David Brower. “I’m glad we are getting close to last year’s (millage) rate.”
“We are working to reduce the costs, and you will see reductions,” said Commissioner Ted Schindler. “You have already seen some and, granted they are small, you will see more. We are making a tremendous effort from every end of the spectrum. We need to provide the best service we can at the best price.”
Morris pointed out the figures presented at the second hearing are not final ones.
“We have until our final budget hearing to see if there is anything we can do to reduce the rate further,” said Morris. “You have my word that if we find that we have some other cuts that we can make, we will make them and set the final rate even lower.”
The board of fire commissioners will hold its final budget hearing at Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 5:05 p.m.