1990.06.19_FAB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
. FINANCIAL ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING - MINUTES
Tuesday, June 19, 1990 9:40 A.M.
Chairman Fred Firstenburg commenced this Regular Meeting of the Finan-
cial Board to order at 9:40 A.M. in Commission Chambers.
Present were the Chairman and Regular Members Victor J. Page, Richard
Brunton and John F. Rand.
Also present were Town Manager Mary Ann Mariano, Chief Accounting Of-
ficer JoAnn Rutherford, Accounting Clerk Michael Seaman and Deputy
Town Clerk Doris Trinley.
The Regular Meeting minutes of May 8, 1990 were approved upon MOTION
by Mr. Page/Mr. Rand, which MOTION carried unanimously.
Today's agenda called for review of the 1990/1991 Fiscal Year Budget
and the Finance Department had prepared that portion of the Budget
dealing with expenditures for the start of the Board's review.
All departments were reviewed individually; some pertinent aspects re-
viewed and/or discussed in depth were as follows:
Salaries: Based on a report adopted by the Town Commission (Long
Report), the cost of living increase is based on the April 30 CPI
(4.5% this year). Merit increases range between 3% and 5%; the 5%
maximum is not applied indiscriminately. A typographical error was
noted regarding Building Department salaries, which will be corrected
by the Finance Department.
Workman's Compensation: The projected increase was based on informa-
tion received from the Florida League of Cities.
Books, Dues, Education and Subscriptions: The Town is a member of the
Palm Beach County Municipal League and the Florida League of Cities.
Subscriptions to newspapers is necessary regarding proof of publica-
tion of legal ads for Town Commission and Town Boards. Each Depart-
ment Head is a member of related professional associations. Every two
years, the Town purchases a complete set of Florida State Statutes.
Law Enforcement: During the past year a survey was taken to ascertain
the comparability of police salaries to other municipalities, which
showed that the Town was not taking previous years of service into
consideration when hiring new officers, while other municipalities
were. This was recently corrected administratively, using a formula
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Financial Advisory Board
• Regular Meeting - Minutes
June 19, 1990 Paqe 2 of 4
of 1/2% for every year of experience, with a cap of 10%. With the
exception of one, all officers qualified for the 10%. A salary range
which would take into consideration an officer's receiving a pension
from previous employment would be discriminatory according to the
Town's legal counsel. The members were assured by the Town Manager
that the law enforcement personnel were satisfied with their existing
salary structure.
Increased expenses in Communication have to do with increases in the
Town's contract with Boca Dispatch.
It was noted that a new car is purchased every year for the depart-
ment, with a vehicle having 3-year service usage and then rotated
out.
Library: In the past, Friends of the Library have paid office supply
costs for the library; this year they asked the Town to assume this
expense, as their funds are supposed to be used only for the extras
needed in running the library, as well as the fact that the librarian
is an employee of the Town.
Due to increased costs of books, the Friends are also asking the Town
to make a donation in this regard.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue: Extensive discussion took place
regarding the extreme increase in costs for this contractual service
due to dissolution of individual MSTU's. The members were advised
that the Town's contract has a clause which calls for an 18-month
notification for either party should cancellation be desired;
therefore, the Town has no choice at this time, but to absorb the
increase. The members requested that they be shown a copy of the
communication, with supporting figures, which the Town Manager re-
ceived from the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Service which requested
an increase of almost 50% in cost over the prior year's figure. How-
ever, it was unanimously agreed that such approved increase was made
under protest and that our Town Commission and the county would be so
advised.
It was the Consensus of the members that the Town Commission should
consider an outside study regarding alternatives to this county
service, which they were advised would cost approximately $18,000 -
$20,000. It was also suggested that other like municipalities who
contract for county fire rescue services be surveyed to get their
thoughts on possible alternatives and/or obtain information from them
on studies they may have conducted in the past and that the FAB mem-
bers would expect that this be done prior to engaging the services of
an outside consultant.
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Financial Advisory Board
Regular Meeting - Minutes
June 19, 1990
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ATTEST: 1-
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APPROVE:
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
FIRE RESUE COSTS
FISCAL YEARS 81-91
Fire costs paid by taxpayers
----------------------------
BUDGET
TOWN ASSESSED
MILLAGE
FIRE -RESCUE
YEAR
----------------------------------------------------------
VALUATION (NET)
RATE
COSTS
1981/82
$166,800,000
1.8810
$313,750
1982/83
$334,234,000
1.4761
$493,363
1983/84
$399,955,826
1.4863
$594,454
1984/85
$423,215,278
1.5108
$639,390
1985/86
$465,463,374
1.3959
$649,718
1986/87
$456,788,320
1.3704
$626,000
1987/88
$485,474,062
1.3896
$674,623
1988/89
$503,095,182
1.3152
$661,646
1989/90
$534,479,595
1.3775
$736,235
1990/91 EST.
$542,933,870
2.0391
$1,107,106
Typical Fire Rescue service costs for an average home:
With an assessed valuation of: $125,000
Less an exemption of: $25,000
Net assessed valuation of: $100,000
COST
YEAR
----------------------------------------------------------
MILLAGE RATE
$/YEAR
PER DAY
1981/82
1.8810
188
0.52
1982/83
1.4761
148
0.40
1983/84
1.4863
149
0.41
1984/85
1.5108
151
0.41
1985/86
1.3959
140
0.38
1986/87
1.3704
137
0.38
1987/88
1.3896
139
0.38
1988/89
1.3152
132
0.36
1989/90
1.3775
138
0.38
1990/91 EST.
2.0391
204
0.56
TOWN MILLAGE
------------------------------------------
RATES PRIOR FISCAL
YEARS
YEAR
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GEN. OPER. DEBT SERVICE
FIRE RESCUE
TOTAL
1984/85
1.3607
0.4968
1.5108
3.3683
1985/86
1.5252
0.4473
1.3958
3.3683
1986/87
1.0239
0.4511
1.3704
2.8454
1987/88
0.9770
0.4265
1.3896
2.7931
1988/89
1.0078
0.4350
1.3152
2.7580
1989/90
0.9033
0.4109
1.3775
2.6917
1990/91 EST.
2.0391
2.0391