Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 03-13-2007 workshop agenda — reading text

aTYOFFORTWALTONBEACH City Council Workshop Agenda - March 13, 2007 - 5: 30 P.M Revised City Council Chambers 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Anderson I WORKSHOP AGENDA 1. General Public on items of City business. ( No Backup) 2. Discussion regarding formation of a Transportation Committee. ( Public Works Director/ Council Member Holmes) ( See Backup) 3. Property Tax Issues- Florida League of Cities Legislative Update ( Mayor Anderson). ADJOURN Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (FS286.0105). The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please call City Clerk Helen Spencer at 850-833- 9509 to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TDD # 850-833- 9925 or 1- 800- 955-8771 TDD) or 1- 800- 955-8770 ( Voice). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to allow the City time to provide requested service.  Opposition to .Property Ta>e} ptelief - Millage Roll- Back Support an equitable property tax assessment system and oppose any measure that would decrease Home Rule Authority. Property Tax Allocation Our City reduced its millage rate 7% in 2006. Water Our County reduced it's millage rate 15% in 2006. Mgmt 0.3% Our Citizen' s Total Tax Bill: 2006 2005 Legislating penalties to School District 7. 7860 8. 0630 Cities and Counties doesn' t Fort Walton Beach 4. 6458 4. 9700 help when School Boards OkalQosa County 3. 6500 4.2500 are most of the tax bill. Water Mgmt. Dist 0. 0500 0. 0500 Total Millage: 16. 1318 17. 3330 Under the proposal, our City' s millage rate would be cut27%. Total City Property Tax Revenue Current Revenue at 4.6458 rate: $ The Proposal is not Revenue Neutral. ProposedHevenue at cut rate of 3.4025: Decrease in Revenue of 27%: Opposition to Property Tax Reform - Homestead/ Sales Tax Support an equitable property tax assessment system as a stable revenue base and oppose any measure that would significantly increase reliance on more volatile sales tax revenues. Sales Tax Distribution fc' Qfthesale~ tax generated in Okaloosa County is While 38'> produced by anch:;:Qllected vvithinour Citv, the State only remits 9% back to the City ofFQ! tWaltonBeach. Sales Taxis. volatile lmcl subject to Interlocal Agreements. County I How the prQposectchanges will cut $2 million from our Revenue: 68% 1/ 2 cent sales tax revenueat6% 1, 887,985 l.i/e.staxwill The proposec!$. 1/ 2 cent sales tax revenue at 8. 5% 2, 674,655 add $787,000 in revenue... Sales Tax increase due to 2. 5 cents $ 786, 670 Ad Valorem Revenue wi Homestead 6, 335,983 but take away $2.8 million The Proposal is not Ad Valorem Revenue wlo HQmestea! 3, 518,514 in revenue... Revenue Neutral. Ad ValQrem LQSS due to Homestead $ ( 2, 817,469) 2,030,799) Millage Roll- Back Homestead/ Sales Tax a.Qualitv of Life. This combined would have a devastating impact on our City' s finances anp€l.piHtytocQntinue current services. Our City would be forced to implement considerable labor cuts or eliminate services/ programs. labor Cuts OR Service/ Program Cuts Across. the. board cuts to our greatest Elimination of " non. essential" services would Jncludeclosing expense - labor. would reduce the quality Parks, Library, Museum, Senior Center; ing/ Gornrnunity redw;: Redevelopment initiatives and Infrastructure maintEjna: l.nd timeliness of services and mean a nG7;€ minimum of 66 full. time jobs, including eliminating Community Policing, Advanced Life SlJpport, ReGreation 21 Pol.iceOfficers and 8 Firefighters. programs, Neighborhood programs, and SpecialevEjnts~ uch€l.s Property Tax is the primary source 4th of July fireworks, Kids' Day, and Sunday inthEjRl3.rk. of funding for our Police Officers The City has maintained or reduced its mill~ger~ tf?#"" hJ/e and Firefighters. enhancing quality of life for our Citizens.