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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_6/16/2025 cj�" MINUTES Workshop Meeting Village of Tequesta, FL Mayor Molly Young Vice-Mayor Rick Sartory Council Member Laurie Brandon Council Member Patrick Painter Council Member Jayson E. French June 16, 2025 6:00 PM Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Mayor Molly Young at 6:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Clerk McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Molly Young, Council Member Patrick Painter, Vice-Mayor Rick Sartory, Council Member Laurie Brandon, and Council Member Jayson E. French. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Review and Discuss the Fiscal Year(FY) 2025-26 Proposed Budget Manager Allen highlighted the proposed maximum ad valorem tax rate of 6.4595 and noted there would not be a tax increase recommended. He explained the Village ranks middle among the 39 Palm Beach County municipalities, with nine having their own police/fire departments. He reviewed the following: • Property tax revenue projected to rise by 7.91%; average $600,000 home would see an annual increase of $109 or $9/month for village services. • Infrastructure surtax sunsetting in December expected to create a $496,000 budget gap, typically generates $650,000 in revenue. • $1 .3 million proposed from reserves for next phase of Remembrance Park, ribbon cutting for Phase One set for July. • Police officer salaries proposed 13% increase to impact budget by $280,000; firefighter raises of $145,000 also factored in; and continued police patrol vehicle replacements, switching to purchase model instead of lease for better resale value. • Staffing adjustment includes adding one police officer to maintain full coverage, current ratio at 3.35 officers per thousand residents. • Water utility projects, including $5.9 million Beach Road Phase Two, are underway with $2 million set aside for capital improvements. • Fire Rescue vehicle replacement for 15-year-old fire department vehicle with 18- 24 month lead time; replacement essential to ensure the fire department maintains operational efficiency and safety standards. Council was generally supportive of maintaining the current millage rate in order to ensure stability (Mayor wanted to look at a lower rate); there was a consensus to evaluate the usage and maintenance costs of Phase One of Remembrance Park before committing to funding for Phase Two. The Mayor suggested providing a budget with a lower millage rate to see what the impact would be and Council voiced concerns with the impact a reduced millage rate would have on future funding for village services and projects amidst economic uncertainties. Manager Allen noted the budget aligns with 14 strategic priorities, including a state appropriation of $340,000 for park planning initiatives. He pointed out: • Flat millage rate projections at 3.54% property tax increases due to lack of major development projects in pipeline. • Unassigned fund balance of $7.2 million with target of three months operating expenses ($4.7 million). • Personnel costs trending upward while capital outlay and operating expenses remain relatively flat. Council requested water utility comparison updated rate comparison with other municipalities, bring back refuse and recycling recovery charge options from November workshop, provide cost estimate for residents to redo swales independently, provide detailed information on three swale reclamation projects including scope and resident impact, clarify capital project rollover amounts versus new budget allocations between meetings; and the Mayor asked staff to create a five-year projection showing impact of potential millage rate reduction/rollback rate. ADJOURNMENT Re pectfully submitted, Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the office of the Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's office.