Town ratifies millage budget for FY2019
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Monday formally approved the tax rate and budget for the 2019 fiscal year .
The town council voted unanimously to set the millage at .8700 mills, the same as last year, while setting the tentative budget at $18,106,265, which was $15,000 less than the tentative budget passed two weeks ago.
Issues previously discussed such as the pubic safety costs costs associated with the New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration did not come up, but the need for lobbyists did and money was found to fund the entire $45,000 bill for that. Legal services provided $30,000 of that money, since its budget had doubled from $200,000 to $400,000, leaving $370,000 left.
The rest was transferred from the CIP budget, allowing the town to save $15,000.
Councilmember Bruce Butcher had an issue with the line item of fund reserves and balances advertised being from 2017 and not for 2019. Which is two years behind.
“I want to see a projection for what it might be to get an idea of the current state of all reserves.,” Butcher said. “They made the commitment to do that during the next budget process.”
Butcher said the financial situation in the town prior to Roger Hernstadt being named town manager was a mess. Hernstadt spent a year putting in a new system to stay on top of it.
The town council also amended an ordinance in the town’s personnel manual that adjusts the hours of work and provides for an exchange of annual leave for pay.