SEBASTIAN — After robust discussion, the Sebastian City Council, in a 3-2 split, gave the go-ahead to the 3.8556 millage rate recommended by the Budget Advisory Committee, solely in order to submit required forms to the county Property Appraiser’s office, for the annual TRIM notices (notice of Proposed Property Taxes) to be sent to all county property owners in August.
The vote followed Council making it clear that the rate chosen, the highest of the three presented, was not necessarily what the final millage rate would be.
Presenting the General Fund Budget and Millage proposal, City Finance Director Ken Kilgore explained that, for purposes of the TRIM notice, the higher rate was the safest choice. He explained that if, after all budget meetings and public hearings had taken place, it was found that a higher rate than that submitted was necessary, the City would have to inform every property owner, via registered mail, that they had underestimated, costing money and likely damaging public confidence.
Having the millage set “at the most you can stand, the highest possible rate,” said Kilgore, “leaves you some wiggle room.”
The three Millage options Kilgore presented were: the Rolled-Back Rate, 3.5446 (the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenues as approved for the prior year); the same rate as the previous year, 3.7166, which reflects a balanced General Fund Budget, without any additions; and 3.8556, the rate that would include several items not in the proposed General Fund budget, which the Budget Committee felt should be included.
Budget Committee Chairman Ed Herlihy told the Council his committee, after lengthy discussion with Kilgore, City Engineer Frank Watanabe and City Manager Joe Griffin, decided to recommend an additional: $100,000 for lagoon issues; $100,000 for street resurfacing; $50,000 for All Aboard Florida issues; and $15,000 for the City’s share of the COPS grant.
While Council members Richard Gillmor, Andrea Coy and Mayor Bob McPartlan were in favor of taking the Budget Committee’s recommendation, Vice-Mayor Jim Hill and Council member Jerome Adams were opposed.
“I’m not keen on the (committee’s) recommendation,” Adams said. “The budget is balanced.”
Hill was of the opinion that the City is “doing a lot already” in the areas for which the committee recommended additional funding.
Additionally, he stated, the funds requested for All Aboard Florida and the lagoon were for what-if’s, calling such monies “slush funds du jour. There’s no way I could support doing that. I oppose ‘Just In Case’ funds.”
Several of the specifically stated items, he added, should be funded under Capital Improvements rather than placed in the General Fund.
McPartlan and Coy reminded everyone that they were not here to discuss specifics, and that they should set the maximum rate to give the Council options.
Line items will be discussed and public hearings held as the budget process continues.
