2021-08-11 Approved Minutes165
��.
,i'OF�OXEF ��
` �'� �yo ;
? �:
� � �
_>� �
- r, �i.i .,�
�ITY OF OKEECHOBteE, FLORIDA
Au�u�T 11, 2021, BUD�ET WORKSHOP
SUMMARY OF DIS�USSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called tlie Workshop of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to
order on Wednesday, ,August 11, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers,
located at 55 Southeas� 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
II. ATTENDANCE
Roll was taken by City �Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum. Members present:
Mayor powling R. Watford, Jr., Council Members Noel Chandler, Monica Clark, Bob
Jarriel, and Bobby Keefe.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLI(: COMMENT�
A. There were no agenda item forms or comment cards submitted for public
participation for ��ny issues not on the agenda.
IV. OPEN BUDGET WORKSHOP
A. The purpose of fihe Workshop was to review and discuss the proposed budget
for Fiscal Year (FY) October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, as presented by
Interim Adminisi:rator Ritter. To assist with the presentation, he deferred to
Finance Director Riedel who distributed a complete budget revised as of August
11, 2021, to replace the version published with the agenda dated as August 4,
2021, 6:44 P.M. Six additional pages of information were distributed to assist
during discussions, all of which have been incorporated into the minute file.
Budget page or�e provided a recapitulation of the estimated General Fund
revenue and ex�enses, presented using a millage rate of 7.6018 for ad valorem
revenues. The proposal included a list comparing the increases/decreases of the
current to the proposed budget detail. The proposed Beginning Fund Balance
Total is $4,342,5�01.00. Estimated Revenues are $7,628,201.00 ($2,537,990.00
Ad Valorem, $748,800.00 Other Fees, $1,773,450.00 Intergovernmental,
$1,099,300.00 Charges for Services, $21,450.00 Fines/Forfeitures/Penalties,
$8,500.00 Uses of Money and Property, and $39,240.00 Other Revenues;
$350,000.00 Ti�ansferred-In from Public Facilities Improvement Fund;
$1,049,471.00 Transferred-In from Capital Improvement Projects Fund). Total
Projected Expenditures are $7,628,201.00; leaving a Fund Balance of
$4,342,501.00. F'ages three and four provided detail Line Item breakdown (or
sources) of the revenues including transfers-in from other Funds.
Each Department's projected budget within the General Fund was presented and
included the ass:umption that each position would receive their appropriate step
increase (1.5 percent) within the Salary Step Plan [This is not an automatic salary
increase. A minimum satisfactory score is required on the employee evaluation.],
and increases tc► Communications and Freight (Line Item 4100) regarding the
Fiber Optic Change Out Project for all Departments.
511-Legislative/'City Council (pages 5 and 6)
Total Personnel �;osts:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
512-Executive/��dministration (pages 7 and 8)
Total Personnel �Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
2512-ExecutivePCity Clerk (pages 9 and 10)
Total Personnel �osts:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
$114,135.00
$ 80, 800.00
$194,935.00
$212,825.00
$ 53,375.00
$266,200.00
$207,307.00
$ 91,300.00
$298,607.00
AUGUST 11, 2021, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, PAGE 1 OF 3
166
IV. BUDGET WORKSHOF� CONTINUED
514-Legal Servflces (page 11)
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
513-Finance (p��ges 12 and 13)
Total Personnel Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
519-General Services (pages 14 and 15)
Total Personnel Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
521-Police Department (pages 16 and 17)
Total Personnel Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
522-Fire DeparY,ment (pages 18 and 19)
Total Personnel Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
541-Public Works (pages 20 and 21)
Total Personnel Costs:
Total Supplies and Other Services:
FY 2021-22 Proposed Total:
$190,400.00
$216,750.00
$122,525.00
$339,275.00
$176,412.00
$479, 864.00
$656,276.00
$2,665,775.00
$ 470,648.00
$3,136,423.00
$ 251,900.00
$ 903,160.00
$1,155,060.00
$ 716,700.00
$ 674,325.00
$1,391,025.00
Information was distributed to identify revenues listed within the General Fund
budget to offset r�perational costs, totaling $703,400.00; a list of specific projects
and additional/new services with their proposed costs was included. Interim
Administrator Ritter asked the Council to prioritize the projects listed within
General Service� Line Item 3100 Professional Services budget. The consensus
of the Council was to focus on the Future Land Use and Zoning Map
changes, and the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) of the
Comprehensiv� Plan.
MAYOR WATFORD RECESSED THE WORKSHOP AT 6:59 P.M. AND
RECONVENED AT 7:06 P.M.
The next propo�ed budget to review was the Public Facility Improvement
(Transportation 301) Fund (pages 23 and 24). It was prepared in coordination
with Interim Administrator Ritter and Public Works Director Allen, and was
presented with a Beginning Fund Balance of $923,970.00; Total Revenue
Estimates of $2,��18,701.00; Total Expenditures Projected of $2,215,701.00, plus
$350,000.00 to k�e Transferred-Out to General Fund; leaving a Fund Balance of
$576,970.00. Supplemental information was distributed that included additional
discussion items broken down by Department with focus on the funds the City
has been awarded from the American Rescue Plan totaling $2,400,000.00 to be
spent over two y�ears. Items identified in this budget year totaled $1,185,000.00.
The third propos�ed budget to review was the Capital Improvements Projects
(304) Fund (pages 26 and 27) and was prepared by Interim Administrator Ritter
in coordination with each Department Head, and the Five-Year Capital
Improvement Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Total Beginning Fund
Balance of $3,685,061.00; Total Revenues of $121,000.00; Total Projected
Expenditures ar� $278,800.00, plus $1,049,471.00 Transferred-Out to General
Fund; leaving a Fund Balance $2,477,790.00. As noted in the Public Facility
Improvement Fund budget regarding the American Rescue Plan funding, one
expenditure is included in this budget year for $15,000.00.
AUGUST 11, 2021, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, PAGE 2 OF 3
167
IV. BUDGET WORKSHOF' CONTINUED
The fourth propc►sed budget to review was the Other Grant (302) Funds (page
29) prepared in coordination with Interim Administrator Ritter and Public Works
Director Allen. T'otal Beginning Fund Balance of $260,000.00; Total Revenues
Estimates of $300,000.00; Total Projected Expenditures are $430,000.00;
leaving a Fund E3alance $130,000.00. The activity in this Fund is directly related
to the Taylor Creek Southeasfi 4t" Street Project (Contract No LPQ0007).
The fifth budget with no proposed activity was the Appropriations Grant (307)
Funds (page 30). The Fund is directly related to the Taylor Creek Southeast 8tn
Avenue Project �Grant (Contract No. LP4i020) that was finalized in the current
FY.
The sixth and final proposed budget for review was the Law Enforcement
Special (601) Fund (page 31), presented in coordination with Assistant Chief
Hagan. Beginnirig Fund Balance of $15,600.00; Total Estimated Revenues of
$1,000.00; Total Projected Expenditures as $11,500.00; leaving a Fund Balance
of $5,100.00.
Supplemental ini�ormation was distributed containing four millage rate options for
the Council to co�nsider. Option One: prior year millage rate of 7.6018, generates
$2,537,990.00 ir� ad valorem i�evenue, requiring $1,049,471.00 of reserve funds
to balance the b�adget. Option Two: prior year millage rate with a consumer price
index of 4.43 percent equaling 7.9386, generates $2,650,436.00 in ad valorem
revenue, requiring the use of $937,025.00 from reserves. Option Three: decrease
prior year millac�e rate by 0.25 equaling 7.3518, generates $2,454,523.00,
requiring the use of $1,132,923.00 from reserves. Option Four: utilize the rollback
rate of 7.3317, generates $2,447,812.00, requiring $1,139,649.00 from reserves.
The consensus of the Council was to continue with the current millage rate,
Option One: rate of 7.6018.
Salary options arid the budget impact were provided for a proposed Cost of Living
Allowance. Optian One: 1.5 percent; Option Two: 2.0 percent; and Option Three:
3.0 percent. Salary increases excluded the Mayor, Council, and City
Administrator pc�sitions who are not included in the Salary Step Plan. The
consensus of the Council was to incorporate Option One: 1.5 percent into
the salaries.
Mayor Watford c>pened the floor for public comment. Mrs. Jennifer Tewksbury
expressed her thoughts on the positive im�act investing in the FLAGLER PARK
project would have on economic development in the City and asked the Council
to consider budgeting more than $50,000.00.
The discussion was mainly focused on reducing the overall expenditures. The
Council tasked each Department Head with going back over their budgets
to review what �xpenditures can be deferred or reduced. Council member
Clark requestec� that staff actually present a revised budget that would
decrease experuditures by at least $50a,000.00. A second budget Workshop
will be held on August 17, 2021.
V. ADJOURN: Mayor W�tford adjourned the Workshop at 8:59 P.M.
Subrx�itted By: ;
� � � f � 2Ct���.�-�
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City CIE:rk
Please take notice and be advised that when a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council
with respect to any matter consider�d at this meeting, s/he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the
proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
City Clerk media are for the sole pur��ose of backup for official records of the Clerk.
AUGUST 11, 2021, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, PAGE 3 OF 3