HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-22 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2000
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Budget Workshop Meeting of the
City Commission to order on Tuesday, August 22, 2000, at 2:10 p.m., in Room
105, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Karen L. Roberts, Commissioner
Edward C. Portner, and Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof.
ABSENT AND EXCUSED FOR CAUSE: Commissioner Larry Mishkin.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Assistant City Manager Tim
Hemstreet, Assistant City Attorney Vanessa T. Steinerts, and City Clerk Marion
Swenson.
Mayor Schreiber read a statement into the record and said he sees no reason to
raise the millage or implement a service tax in the FY2001 budget, and
suggested using $1,000,000 from the general budget, cutting 10% from the
general fund, implementing a policy of fiscal prudence, eliminating the Building
Department rental, institute privatization, and evaluate investments and services.
Mayor Schreiber said the City is in the business of providing services. City
Manager Miller said he would look into Mayor Schreiber's suggestions.
Commissioner Sultanof said he believes in prudence regarding financial
responsibility and said Tamarac Commerce Park is growing and that will bring in
revenue. Commissioner Sultanof said he is concerned about Tamarac not
having money for emergencies. Commissioner Portner asked if there is a $6
million surplus, and City Manager Miller said there is not. City Manager Miller
said his concern is the same as Commissioner Sultanof s, but there are some
options. City Manager Miller said the Commission looked at a 5-year time frame,
but if they look at something less, they will still be in good stead for the next three
years. At the Public Hearing, residents showed concern about the Public Service
Tax, and the City can look at other revenue sources that were not available in
July.
Assistant City Manager Hemstreet explained the components of the $268,000 in
new revenue; sales tax replaces cigarette tax, proposed Interlocal agreement
with Broward County for continuation of bus service; and GIS specialist salary
divided among the three funds that utilize his services. Assistant City Manager
Hemstreet said $1-1.5 million is needed for the next 4 years
Mayor Schreiber said the Commission received overwhelming support from the
public for passage of the 11 referendum items, including an increase in salary for
the Mayor and Commissioners. Mayor Schreiber said if the Commission
increases taxes residents will say the Commission is doing that to pay
City Commission Budget Workshop
August 22, 2000
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themselves more money. Vice Mayor Roberts did not agree, and said she did
not want to go through this again next year. Vice Mayor Roberts said she would
prefer to plan for five years. Commissioner Sultanof said he believed County
taxes went down, and that would be a balance. Commissioner Sultanof said
there is no merit to work only on one year. Commissioner Portner said he would
prefer that the Commission look at five-year plan. It is important to have
sufficient funds to do everything they want to do, and the City should look out at
least three years. Commissioner Portner said he has to do what he thinks is best
for Tamarac, and he cannot see coming back year after year trying to raise or
enhance revenue. Commissioner Portner said he feels the utility tax is the best
way to go because it is a fair tax where everybody pays something. With regard
to the millage, many people on the east side of town will pay nothing.
City Manager Miller said if the utility tax is not successful, staff still has time to
move in another direction. Vice Mayor Roberts asked how much is needed for
five years and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said $1.75 million.
Commissioner Sultanof said the ad valorem tax could be lowered in the future,
while the utility tax could not.
Mayor Schreiber said in the last five years the City expended less than was
budgeted because staff has been able to perform and keep costs down.
Commissioner Sultanof said staff and the Commission have shown fiscal
responsibility, and suggested a one -mil increase.
Commissioner Portner asked how one -mil compares to the utility tax, and
Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said 6%, which would raise $1.78 million on a
three-year cycle. The first year would generate a surplus, the second year would
break even, and the third year would show a deficit. Between 1-1.5 mil should be
acceptable for a three-year cycle, and that would include everything in Tamarac
2000 and the capital improvement plan.
Commissioner Portner said at the end of two years the Commission would have
to concern themselves about year four. Commissioner Sultanof said he is not in
favor of the utility tax, as condominium dwellers get hit three times - the building's
bill, the neighborhood bill and their own bill. At the Town Hall meeting the
people spoke in favor of ad valorem taxes. Mayor Schreiber said a millage
increase is tax deductible. Vice Mayor Roberts said she researched her own
FPL bills going back eight months, and computed the 7% increase. It came out
to more than the one -mil ad valorem increase. Vice Mayor Roberts said one -mil
raises about same amount of money as the 7% utility tax. Mayor Schreiber said
people feel once a utility tax is instituted it will never be removed. Mayor
Schreiber said the Commission has to determine which direction to take. City
Manager Miller said he would add the last option of one mil and resubmit the
calculations. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said a decision must be made
by September 1. City Manager Miller asked for an expression of interest on the
millage and Vice Mayor Roberts said she preferred one mil, Commissioner
Sultanof said he preferred one mil, Mayor Schreiber asked for .50 mil, and
City Commission Budget Workshop
August 22, 2000
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Commissioner Portner said he was not in favor of a millage increase. There was
discussion about .75 mil and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said .75 mil
would bring in about $1.75 million.
Vice Mayor Roberts and Commissioner Sultanof agreed to .75 mil. Mayor
Schreiber said the City is trying to encourage industry to come into Tamarac, and
if taxes are raised that affects companies considering relocation. Vice Mayor
Roberts said Tamarac's taxes are lower than Sunrise and Coral Springs, and
Tamarac has no utility tax. Mayor Schreiber said he would consider .75 mil.
Commissioner Portner said Customer Service would like to have uniforms, which
adds $1,225 to the budget. Vice Mayor Roberts was in favor of uniforms and
Mayor Schreiber was not.
Vice Mayor Roberts questioned changing the temporary part-time position to full-
time, and funding for a landscape maintenance contract. City Manager Miller
said Parks and Recreation Director Margoles had placed two full-time positions in
the budget, but they were not recommended. Contractual services were less
expensive. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet explained the $2,200 upgrade
from part-time temporary Customer Service Aide, and said the difference lies in
the benefit money. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned the donation to the Tamarac
Tarheels Basketball team, and Mayor Schreiber suggested giving them $500.00.
Vice Mayor Roberts questioned several items that were to have been changed
after the last budget workshop on July 11th, and City Manager Miller said the
requested changes would be made to the budget.
There was discussion about information being given to newspaper reporters.
Commissioner Portner asked if the City intended to reinstate the TAPP Program
in October, and Management and Budget Officer Ralston said they are
considering non-residential accounts. There was discussion about MediaOne
giving TV equipment to the City and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said
MediaOne gave cash instead of the equipment.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor
Schreiber adjourned the Budget Workshop at 3:50 p.m.
Marion Swens n, CMC
City Clerk
City Commission Budget Workshop
August 22, 2000
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