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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_09/11/2014 MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA SPECIAL MEETING 1 ST PUBLIC HEARING " SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 2014/2015 BUDGET Call to Order and Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Abby Brennan, Vice Mayor Vince Arena, Council Member Steve Okun, Council Member Tom Paterno and Council Member Frank D'Ambra. Open Public Hearing • Announce that the proposed operating millage rate necessary to fund the budget is 9.64% greater than the rolled -back millage rate of 5.7387 mills. • Announce Proposed Millage Rate is 6.2920 Attorney Davis announced and clarified the millage rate. • Summary of Tentative Budget Ms. JoAnn Forsythe, Finance Director, provided a summary of the proposed millage rate and budget funds and noted exact totals within the budget. Council Member D'Ambra noted his rejection of an increase the year previous because of economic reasons; however he has a different perspective this year. He felt that the budget should operate as lean as possible and employees had made a strident effort to spend wisely. He established his support to increase additional revenues, replenish reserves and capital improvements through what he believed was a necessary increase. Council Member Paterno stated he had mixed feelings and verified his understanding of the effect the increase would have on businesses and those without homestead status. He noted that home values had incurred a three percent County tax increase recently and felt the Village's proposed four percent would be too much. He advised that he could possibly support the increase if a budget savings column was added with a focus on reserves and capital improvements. Council Member Okun stated that Council had depleted reserves for a number of years and he felt staff had done more with less for some time. He believed if no increase was made now the Village would be forced to raise taxes at a painful amount. Vice Mayor Arena shared his understanding from residents who supported the increase to maintain the character of the Village. He voiced his feeling that he was happy to be offering employees' raises as well. Mayor Brennan commented that a lot of work had gone into the budget and the Village had not raised the millage rate for over 13 years (prior to last year) and, had even lowered it. She Minutes — Special 1 St Budget Hearing Meeting 9/11/14 Page 2 agreed with Council Member Paterno regarding savings and reassured, that along with management, Council felt it extremely important to be involved, maintain and monitor the budget. Council Member Paterno confirmed that money would be moved by Council's direction into suggested accounts for monitoring and that he would support the increase with that being understood. Mayor Brennan agreed. • Citizen Comments Jim Humpage, 562 N. Dover Road supported Council's decision and stated his support of building reserves and concentrating on infrastructure. He also felt employees needed to be considered as the cost of living had increased dramatically. Close Public Hearing 1. Approve Proposed Millage Rate by Motion of Council MOTION Council Member D'Ambra moved approval of the proposed millage rate of 6.2920 mills; seconded by Council Member Okun; motion carried unanimously 5 -0. 2. Adopt Tentative 2014/2015 Budget by Motion of Council MOTION Council Member Okun moved approval of the tentative 201412015 budget; seconded by Council Member D'Ambra; motion carried unanimously 5 -0. 3. Announce Time and Place of Final Budget Public Hearing — September 18, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. — Tequesta Village Hall Manager Couzzo announced the final budget hearing date to be September 18, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. 4. ADJOURNMENT Council Member D'Ambra moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Council Member Paterno. The motion to adjourn carried unanimously 5 -0; therefore, the meeting was adjourned at 6A5 p.m. Respectfully 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.