Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 07-02-09 special — reading text

AGENDA CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING d July 2' 1 2009 2: 30pm CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. ACTION 2. 1 Consideration of setting the tentative ad valorem millage rate for FY 2009 -10. Synopsis: City staff has requested the millage rate remain at last year' s rate of 4. 1986 mils. ( City Manager) ADJOURNMENT Discussion —Direction —Action items may be acted upon by the City Council by either a motion with vote in accordance with Robert' s Rules of Order, or by a consensus of the Council. 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.  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Memorandum TO: Bob Mearns, City Manager FROM: Brandy Wunker, Finance Director Charlotte Dunworth, Budget & Grants Manager RE: Tentative Ad Valorem Millage Rate for FY 2009 -10 DATE: July 1, 2009 Background Statutory Authority Chapter 200 " Determination of Millage" of the Florida Statutes sets a statutory timetable for the calculation and notification to the public of the process to set ad valorem tax millage rates and adopt a budget. The statute identifies the time frames and briefly describes the tasks to be accomplished during those time frames. The City must notify the Property Appraiser of its calculated roll -back rate, tentative millage rate, and first public hearing date for the budget. Discussion Staff received the preliminary 2009 taxable value from the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser in late May. The taxable value of $ 1, 313, 243, 871 represents a decrease of $ 64, 335, 606 or 4.67% from the 2008 final taxable value of $ 1, 377,579, 477. Although due by July 1, the official Certification of Taxable Value ( DR -420) has not yet been received from the Property Appraiser. Tentative Millage The tentative millage rate is the rate that will be shown on each property owner' s " Notice of Proposed sent by the Property Appraiser in August. The TRIM Notice advises each Taxes" ( i. e. TRIM Notice) property owner of the taxable value of the property ( assessed value less any exemptions), proposed tentative) millage rate and estimated tax for each taxing authority, and when and _where each taxing authority will hold public meetings to discuss the budget and set the actual millage tax rate. The tentative millage rate is important because once it is set it cannot be increased without the additional expense of formal re- notification to each taxpayer. The tentative millage rate may be reduced without formal re- notification to each taxpayer. Based on meetings with individual City Council members, as well as the public budget policy meeting, Council members have expressed a desire to not increase taxes or fees. Staff proposes a FY 2009 -10 tentative millage rate of 4. 1986 mills, which is the same as the FY 2008 -09 millage rate. Based on the decrease in taxable value, this would result in $ 256, 614 less ad valorem revenue at a 95% collection rate. The allocation between General Fund and CRA Fund will not be known until the DR -420 is received. Public Hearings Per state statute, the City must hold public hearings on the budget and the City's meetings may not be on the same date as that of Okaloosa County or the School Board. The City is required to notify the Property Appraiser of the date and time of the City's first public hearing for the budget and this date is printed on the TRIM Notice. Any change in the meeting time for the first public hearing on the budget will require re- notification to each City property taxpayer. Staff recommends the following dates and times: Special Council Meeting —Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 5: 30 pm Special Council Meeting —Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 5: 30 pm According to information currently available to the City, these budget hearing dates do not conflict with the public hearing dates of Okaloosa County or the School Board. Recommended Motion Staff respectfully requests that City Council: Motion 1 Set the FY 2009 -10 tentative millage rate for ad valorem taxes at 4. 1986 mills. Motion 2 Confirm the dates and times of the public hearings for the budget: Special Council Meeting – Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 5: 30 pm Special Council Meeting – Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 5: 30 pm Attachments: 2009 Projected Preliminary Assessment Submitted by: Charlotte Dunworth, Budget & Grants Manager Date rJI[ Submitted by: — Brandy Wunk Finance Director Date Reviewed for Agenda: 7 lz d 9 Oert Mearns, City Manager Date uAbudget \budget 09 -10 \trim \7 -2 tentative millage memo - final. doc 2-  PETE SMITH PLEASE REPLY TO: Okaloosa County Property Appraiser 101 E. James Lee Blvd. 151 -D N. E. Eglin Pkwy Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 -4498 Crestview, FL 32536 850) 651 -7240 850) 689 -5900 FAX (850) 651 -7244 FAX ( 850) 689 -5906 OFFICE OF THE OKALOOSA COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER May 28, 2009 City of Fort Walton Beach Mr. Robert Mearns P. O. Box 4009 Fort Walton Beach FL 32549 Re: Projected Preliminary Assessment City of Fort Walton Beach Dear 'Mr. Mearns, Pursuant to the Florida Statutes, we have prepared a projected preliminary assessment roll for 2009. These figures are roughly where we believe the roll will be certified as of July 1, 2009. The results for your jurisdiction are as follows: 2008 Final Total Taxable Value $ 11377, 579, 477 2009 Net New Taxable Value less new const. $ 1, 307, 556, 869 2009 Net Taxable New Construction $ 5, 687, 002 2009 Taxable Total Value $ 1, 313, 243, 871 2009 Gross New Construction $ 1072617435 These are preliminary numbers for use in the planning stages of your operational budget. Final certification ( DR -420) of the preliminary assessment roll will be delivered to you on or before July 1, 2009. If we can be of any further service to you, please call. Sincere) urs, Timothy " Pete" Smith, CFA Okaloosa County Property Appraiser 3-  Page I of 1 Charlotte Qunworth School Board -- July 27 and September 14 4kaloosa County —September 8 and September 15 Carr le X533 - 9504 clones@fwb.org Carole, Would you be so kind as to contact School Board 589. 7300 and Okaloosa County 689 -5801 to find out what their budget hearng dates are? Thanks! Charlotte 7/ 1/ 2009 4-