Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-20-08 special minutes - budget — reading text

millage rate before Council set the tentative millage rate. She said the two alternatives to fund the add backs is to either use fund balance or change the millage rate. Mr. Minich moved to table the motion until after discussion on funding the add backs. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). Mr. Minich moved to fund all add backs with an adjustment to the millage rate. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. 246 Special Council 8- 20- 08 BUDGET WRAP UP ( c{~ The City Manager claritiied based on Council' s guidance tonight staff will prepare the budget with the millage rate adjusted as a result of the add backs. Discussion included comments that some of the add backs are critical to the City and are not very costly; reluctance to decrease the fund balance in the event it is needed for hurricane recovery; and that the cost of the add backs would be less than the tentative millage set by Council. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to fund the add backs with an adjustment to the millage rate and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor Miller absent). Mr. Minich moved to remove from the table the motion to add back $80, 000 to the General Fund for an additional 1 % COLA. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Ilartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). There was some question whether the add back of $80, 000 to the General Fund would include all employees. The City Manager explained adjustments of approximately $ 29, 000 will be made to the three remaining Funds and it cannot cornie from General Fund dollar millage rate. She clarified, for the record, that the additional 1% COLA will be for all employees and they will make the appropriate adjustment to the three remaining Funds. Mr. Minich moved to anlend the motion to include all employees. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). The Mayor called for the vote on the motion, as amended, to add back $ 80,000 for an additional 1 % COLA for all employee~;and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). Council wished to know the total amount remaining. Ms. Dunworth advised there is $ 19, 470. 00 remaining from the $ 237, 183. 00 additional revenues in General Fund based on the 4.4190 tentative millage set by Council. She recapped add backs so far are $ 10, 000 for fire works; $ 3, 000 for Kids Day; $ 40, 000 for two police patrol vehicles; $ 73, 463 for a Fire Prevention Captain; $ 80, 000 for the General Fund portion of the 1 % COLA for all employees; and $ 11, 250 for the CBA. The City Manager stated the budget brought to Council in September will reflect the changes with a tentative millage rate that will be lower than the 4.4190 tentative millage rate set by Council, which is an increase from last year but still represents a reduction because of the roll-back rate. Dr. Pullen commented on the vote taken for the Chamber of Commerce and it was pointed out to him that he had no personal benefit. He expressed his thought that if any Councilmember is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and voted, they receive a personal benefit because they are a member of the organization. The City Attorney explained the financial benefit received has to be different from the She public at large. said all the members of the Chamber of Commerce would receive the same benefit ITom the money they receive but no one individually receives any money. She said if someone on Council were on the Board of Directors or was a paid staff member that would be a different issue. Mr. Holmes thanked everyone involved with the budget preparation with a special thank you to the Department Heads and acknowledged the difficult decisions that had to be made to cut 8% out of their budgets.  247 Special Council 8- 20- 08 BUDGET WRAP UP ( coot) The Mayor voiced appreciation for the hard work by staff and hoped everyone realized they were very difficult decisions for the Departments. He noted although they have increased the millage rate they have still have created a savings and reduced the overall budget. The City Manager thanked Council for their support on the creative solutions to some problems that were offered. The Mayor mentioned that Commissioner Bill Roberts will attend the Council meeting on August 26th to give an update on what is going on in the County. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8: 00 p. m. q; tt APPROVED:___ MAYOR: ~ C ' Y CLE ,w:'~ lve/ ddm