At the Tuesday, August 12 budget workshop, City Commissioners listened while Staff and the Citizens Budget Committee made several recommendations aimed at improving the City’s overall fiscal condition.
Faced with a combined loss of $122,500 in revenues over the past fiscal year, the Budget Committee recommended that the City Commission consider the following:
1. Amend the City’s 2007-2008 budget to reflect the actual income and expenses in all departments and the general fund;
Faced with a combined loss of $122,500 in revenues over the past fiscal year, the Budget Committee recommended that the City Commission consider the following:
1. Amend the City’s 2007-2008 budget to reflect the actual income and expenses in all departments and the general fund;
2. Complete and approve the Franchise Agreement with Mediacom;
3. Increase the current $1.50 per foot docking fee at the Battery Park Marina to $3.00 per foot;
4. Prior to September, 2008, develop and implement an appropriate docking fee for the Scipio Creek Marina;
5. Charge the Department of Environmental Protection a fee for each boat docked at the Scipio Creek Marina;
6. Consider a 3% cost of living increase for all City of Apalachicola employees with a minimum increase of $1,000;
7. If possible, negotiate a new rental agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for the office rental space at Scipio Creek;
8. Adopt the tentatively approved 6.125 millage rate;
9. Continue to apply for State and Federal grant funds for various departments;
10. Consider charging a registration fee for Golf Carts.
City Staff made the following recommendations:
City Staff made the following recommendations:
ESTIMATED GENERAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE/SAVINGS
1. Adopt an overtime policy that allows an employee who accumulates overtime to take off the hours gained before the end of the workweek. Savings - $5,000;
2. Increase the cost to open/close a grave from $250 to $500. Revenue - $8,000;
3. Increase the Property Use Fee charged to Mediacom from $150/per month to $2000/per month. Revenue - $22,200;
4. Charge each water use customer an additional $1/per month for storm water improvements and maintenance. Revenue - $20,832;
5. Charge a $100 fee for the reservation of Lafayette Park. Revenue - $4,000;
6. Charge $25/annually for Golf Cart registration. Revenue - $3,100;
7. Increase the rental fee for use of the Community Center from $100 to $150 and the Recreation Center from $75 to $100 with $50 for State/non-profits and ½ the price for city employees. Revenue - $4,500;
8. Increase the charge for rezonings, variances, special exceptions and plan changes from $100 to $250 plus mailing cost. Revenue - $3,000;
9. Increase the occupational license fee by 25% with CPI increase or 3% per year, whichever is greater. Revenue - $9,375;
10. Increase building permit fees from $20-$30 to $75. Revenue - $3,000
TOTAL: $83,007
ESTIMATED ENTERPRISE FUND REVENUE/SAVINGS
TOTAL: $83,007
ESTIMATED ENTERPRISE FUND REVENUE/SAVINGS
1. Increase mooring fee by 100%. $35/annually to use boat ramps or $2/per launch, free annual pass to documented seafood workers. Revenue - $54,000;
2. Negotiate with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife a new rental agreement for office space. Revenue - $10,000;
3. Charge the State for mooring their barge at Scipio Creek Marina. Revenue - $2,000;
4. Omit mailing out water bill late notices. Savings - $2,500;
5. Charge a $25 fee to activate water services. Revenue - $5,000;
6. Charge a call out fee of $25/Charge for damage to city property $100/Increase return check charge to $35. Revenue - $5,000
TOTAL: $83,500
Should the Commission adopt the recommendations of Staff and the Budget Committee we would generate a Grand Total of $166,507/annually in User Fees for the General Government and Enterprise Fund.
Click HERE to review a copy of the proposed budget for FY 2008-2009.
TOTAL: $83,500
Should the Commission adopt the recommendations of Staff and the Budget Committee we would generate a Grand Total of $166,507/annually in User Fees for the General Government and Enterprise Fund.
Click HERE to review a copy of the proposed budget for FY 2008-2009.
Dear Mayor:
ReplyDeleteA couple of comments on the above budget. First, let me commend all for their efforts to get our financial house in order in these times of shrinking revenues. There are very few in the public or private sector who are not feeling the pinch, or worse. I do not represent the USFWS in any way, but I am somewhat familiar with their budget constraints, serving as a volunteer for St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge for the past five years. I do not feel that they are in the position to pay an increased rental for the space they occupy in the Harbormaster House at the Scipio Creek Marina. Since being complexed under St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Staff and funding has been slashed, and money for necessities, such as gasoline for equipment, is often lacking. I personally think that if the city were to require additional rent for the space, that they better be thinking in terms of another renter, as they may be looking at a vacant building.
Secondly, I am a bit unclear about this from your post, but is the City proposing a launch fee for the Battery Park marina at this point? If so, I would be strongly against such. In my mind, the city would then have to explain why it is selectively charging a fee to a certain category of recreational users (boaters), when none is charged for other recreational use (not storage) on the facilities, such as fishing off the pier. Boaters already face a host of fees before they are even permitted to get there hulls wet. Fishermen are not even required to have a fishing license to fish off the pier, which is alright by me. Let's not rub salt in the wounds to all of us who have negotiated the beat up ramps at Battery Park for the past ten years, by charging a ramp fee, now that they are nice. I empathize with the need to find revenue sources, but after all, grant money ultimately paid for the the much needed improvements to the facility, not the City. Let's not start down the slippery slope of what amounts to access fees for recreational use.
Thanks again for everyone's efforts on the city budget process, and for making it an open process, so that all residents can be involved.
Sincerely,
Robin Rickel Vroegop