Budget hearing attracts little interest
By Rick Catlin islander Reporter
Anna Maria taxpayers appear pleased with the city’s proposed $2.1 million budget for 2010-11, and with the city commission’s decision to retain the current 1.7882 ad valorem tax rate. Only one member of the public, planning and zoning board member and mayoral candidate Sandy Mattick, showed up for the Sept. 8 hearing on the 2010-11 budget.
Commissioners dealt swiftly with one new item in the proposed budget, a request from Sgt. Dave Turner of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria substation for two new laser guns to track vehicle speeds.
City treasurer Diane Percycoe said the MCSO has eight such lasers, but two of them are beyond repair. The lasers were purchased in 2000, she said.
The commission approved a budget item for the purchase of two lasers at $2,250 each, with the money coming from the city’s contingency fund. The fund would then be reduced to $70,000 in the budget.
Staff members will receive an across-the-board 5 percent pay raise, the first pay increase for the staff in five years, Mayor Fran Barford said.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to retain the 1.7882 ad valorem millage rate, although it would take a rate of 1.8665 to collect the same amount of ad valorem tax revenue — property taxes — as in the 2009-10 budget.
The commission voted unanimously to take the estimated $45,000 shortfall to meet projected expense requirements in the proposed budget from the city’s $990,000 reserve fund.
The city would have a reserve to operating budget percentage of 44.7 percent, well above the 35 percent level recommended by the city auditor.
Because of the recent decline in property values, a 1.7882 ad valorem rate will actually reduce a property owner’s tax bill, Percycoe said.
One mil equals .1 percent (1/10 of 1 percent). A person with a home at an assessed value of $300,000 without exemptions, and at an ad valorem tax rate of 1.7882 mils, would pay $536.46 in property taxes for fiscal year 2010-11.
The final public hearing for the 2010-11 budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 22.
Proposed Anna Maria 2010-11 budget itemized |
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Budget year |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
Millage |
1.7882 |
1.7882 |
Rollback |
1.9450 |
1.8665 |
Ad valorem revenues |
$1.106 million |
$1.110 million |
Total revenues |
$2.95 million |
$2.14 million |
Total expenses |
$2.885 million |
$2.14 million |
Administration |
$481,591 |
$489,596 |
Commission |
$33,600 |
$33,600 |
Police |
$659,000 |
$665,000 |
Emergency Ops. |
$7,000 |
$6,000 |
Roads, streets |
$6,000 |
$3,500 |
Stormwater |
$0 |
$24,100 |
Capital projects |
$225,000 |
$225,000 |
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