2011.07.26_TC_Minutes_SpecialTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1.00 PM
Mayor Bernard Featherman called the Special Meeting to order in Commission Chambers at 1:00 PM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Bernard Featherman; Vice Mayor Miriam S. Zwick;
Commissioner Doris M. Trinley; Commissioner John J. Pagliaro; and Commissioner Dennis J.
Sheridan. Also present: Town Attorney Tom Sliney; Town Manager Kathleen D. Weiser; Town Clerk
Beverly M. Brown; Acting Finance Director Cale Curtis; Assistant to the Town Manager Zoie Burgess
and members of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence in honor
of members of the military, both living and deceased.
Civility Pledge: The Civility Pledge was recited by the Town Clerk.
1. ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
Mayor Featherman asked for any additions or deletions. Receiving none, the agenda was accepted as
presented.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
No comments received.
3) NEW BUSINESS
A) Setting the Tentative Maximum Millage Rate — Fiscal Year 2011-2012
Acting Finance Director - At this meeting the Commission will be asked to adopt a tentative maximum
millage rate that will be advertised on the TRIM notices. The TRIM notices are mailed out to all
residents within the Town's taxing jurisdiction. The tentative maximum millage rate should be
considered the upper limit on this year's tax rate. Staff recommends, at a minimum, the tentative
maximum millage rate be adopted at 3.4070. However, the Commission can adopt a rate below 3.4070
or, by a majority vote, they can adopt a rate as high as 4.5230. Reducing the rate below 3.4070 will
require taking more money from the Unrestricted Fund Balance or cutting expenditures to balance the
Town Commission Special Budget Meeting
July 26, 2011
budget. Raising the rate above 3.4070 will give the Commission additional revenue flexibility. Again,
the rate adopted at this meeting is only a tentative rate. It can always be lowered.
A power point presentation was made displaying the following: A) The Town's Taxable Value has
declined approximately 25% ($563 million) since 2007. B) General Fund Proposed Budget
Highlights: Revenues — Ad valorem tax revenue is the same year over year; Appropriation from
unrestricted fund balance is $702,256; Total revenues estimated at $10.2 million, $550K less than
prior year. C) Expenditures — All department services are fully funded; No layoffs, pay cuts,
furloughs, or reductions in employee benefits; Approximately 6% reduction in operating expenses;
Reserve for Contingency $200,000.00. D) Capital Outlay: General Fund — Town Commission Office
— replace 2 computers est. $2,300.00; Finance Department — purchase of laptop or mobile computing
device est. $2,000.00; Public Works — install header curbs at Bel Lido and AIA — est. $15,000.00;
Public Works — replace Town Hall AC unit — est. $21,000.00; General Gov't — new spam filter est.
$2,400.00; new patio furniture est. $3,000.00; upgrade to Channel 95 est. $6,000.00; Building Dept. —
upgrade permit issuing/tracking software est. $7,500.00; Library — purchase of books, movies, CDs,
and other library media est. $75,000.00. E) Unfunded Budget Requests: Upgrade the Geological
Information System — est. cost $15,000.00; Renovate the Town Commission Chambers — est. cost
$100,000.00; Renovate the Police Department est. cost $200,000.00; Improvements to the Town's
walk path on AIA est. cost. $345,000.00. F) Enterprise Funds (Water): Revenues - Revenues are
estimated at $2,314,148.00; Debt service transfer from GF - $1,288,400.00; Total estimated revenue
$3,602,548.00. Expenditures — Operating Expenses - $2,205,400.00; Capital Outlay - $5,000.00; Debt
Service $1,299,410.00; Total estimated expenses $3,509,810.00; Reserve for Contingency -
;$92,738.00. G) Enterprise Funds (Sewer) - Revenues — Revenues are estimated at $1,008,000.00.
Appropriation from unrestricted fund balance - $49,078.00; Total estimated revenue - $1,057,078.00.
Expenditures- Operating Expenses — 41,005,578.00; Capital Outlay - $44,000.00; Total estimated
expenses - $1,049,578.00; Reserve for contingency - $7,500.00.
Operating Millage Rate Scenarios: Taxable Assessed Value of Highland Beach 2012 -
$1,736,878,550.00
Needed from Reserve for
Tax Rate Tax Levy Reserves to Balance Contingency
Budizet
Proposed Budget
3.4070
$5,680,843
$702,256
$200,000
Fully Funder
3,8282
$6,383,154
$ 0.00
$200,000
Majority Vote
4,5230
$7,541,666
$ 0.00
$2,060,822
Two-thirds vote
4,9753
$8,295,832
$ 0.00
$2,814,989
Value of .05 mills
0.05
$ 86,844
2
Town Commission Special Budget Meeting
July 26, 2011
The tentative rate should be a rate that the Commission feels gives them the most flexibility
throughout the budget process. Rate can always be lowered, but cannot be raised without notifying
each tax payer via first class mail. Staff recommends, at a minimum, the roll back rate of 3.4070 be
adopted as the tentative maximum millage rate. By a majority vote, the Commission may adopt a
tentative maximum millage rate of 4.5230.
Mayor Featherman — You are stating that a Tax Rate of 3.4070 will not increase taxes? Director Curtis
— If the value of your property increased, your taxes would also increase.
Comm. Pa lg iaro — How realistic would it be of lowering the tax rate as we have the last four years?
Director Curtis — We could do it if we transfer money out of the unrestricted fund balance. As the
economy continues to slump, our unrestricted monies will go down. Comm. Pa lg iaro —What is the
status on the federal grant for the walking path? Manager Weiser — We submitted our application for
the grant, and they have requested additional information. Do not know if we will receive it.
Comm. Sheridan — The budget proposal states: "Improvements to the Town's walk path on AIA."
What are we improving? Manager Weiser — We would be resurfacing the path.
MOTION: Comm. Sheridan made a motion to set the tentative maximum millage rate at the rolled
back rate of 3.4070 mills. Motion seconded by Commissioner Pa liaro.
DISCUSSION: Comm. Trinley — How much will be taken from the "Reserves" to balance the
Proposed Budget compared to the Fully Funded Budget? Director Curtis —With the Proposed Budget,
we would need to appropriate $702,256 from the Reserves compared to zero with the Fully Funded
Budget. Comm. Trinley — How much more in taxes would a homeowner pay with the Fully Funded
Budget? Director Curtis — It would cost an additional $40.00 per year in taxes for every $100,000 of
assessed value. Mayor Featherman- Times are trying for a number of our residents. We need to keep
the taxes down. Comm. Trinley — We can always decrease the tax rate, but not increase it.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Sheridan -
Yes
Commissioner Pagliaro -
Yes
Commissioner Trinley -
Yes
Vice Mayor Zwick -
Yes
Mayor Featherman -
Yes
Motion passed with a 5-0 vote.
B) Setting a Time and Date for Budget Workshops
Town Manager Weiser - Each budget season the Town Commission has held at least two Budget
Workshops in the month of August. The workshops provide Town residents and Commission
members to have open dialogue on the contents of the budget as well as the operating millage rate.
Town Commission Special Budget Meeting
July 26, 2011
Historically the Town Commission has held one budget workshop at 4:30 pm and the second
workshop at 1:30 pm. Town Staff has identified August 2, 2011 at 4:30 pm and August 16, 2011 at
1:30 pm as potential workshop times and dates.
MOTION: Comm. Sheridan moved to schedule a Budget Workshop on August 2, 2011 at 4:30 PM
and a second Budget Workshop is necessary to schedule it at 12:30 PM on August 30, 2011. Motion
seconded by Vice Mayor Zwick.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Sheridan -
Yes
Vice Mayor Zwick -
Yes
Commissioner Trinley -
Yes
Commissioner Pagliaro -
Yes
Mayor Featherman -
Yes
Motion passed with a 5-0 vote.
C) Setting a Time and Date for two (2) Public Hearings to Adopt a Millage Rate and
Budget.
Town Manager Weiser - The Town is required to hold a public hearing to tentatively adopt a millage
rate and budget. This meeting must follow a specific timeline established by the Florida Department
of Revenue's Truth in Millage (TRIM) procedures. The timeline set forth by TRIM requires that this
meeting be held between September P and September 18th. The meeting must also take place after
5:00 pm. In order to comply with additional TRIM advertising and the Final Budget Hearing
requirements, Town Staff has determined Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 5:01 pm as an optimal time
and date to hold the Tentative Budget Hearing. Secondly, the Commission must also establish the
time and date for the Final Budget Hearing. Town Staff has determined the optimal date and time for
the Final Budget Hearing to be Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 5:O1pm.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Zwick moved to schedule the first Budget Public Hearing on September 6,
2011 at 5:01 PM and the Final Budget Hearing on September 21, 2011 at 5:01 PM. Motion seconded
by Comm. Pa lg_iaro.
ROLL CALL:
Vice Mayor Zwick -
Yes
Commissioner Pagliaro -
Yes
Commissioner Trinley -
Yes
Commissioner Sheridan -
Yes
Mayor Featherman -
Yes
Motion passed with a 5-0 vote.
E
Town Commission Special Budget Meeting
July 26, 2011
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO ITEMS DISCUSSED AT
MEETING
No Comments Received.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Featherman adjourned the
Special Meeting at 1:26 PM upon a MOTION by Commissioner Sheridan seconded by Vice Mayor
Zwick
APPROVED:
emard Featherman, Mayor
Dennis J. Sheridah, Commissioner
ATTES
Beverly,M/ Brown, MMC