- April 22, 2024
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The preliminary budget presented last week to the Longboat Key Town Commission will save money through eliminating a vacant police-officer position, making various changes in the Information Technology Department, reducing attorney expenses and eliminating the Ready Alert system weather-subscription service.
But the Town Commission will continue to discuss other options to save money and generate revenue between now and the adoption of the budget, in September.
At the beginning of the meeting, Town Manager David Bullock provided an overview of the 2011-12 fiscal year situation: Sales taxes and electricity and gas franchise fee projections are down by $136,000, while the commission has spent more than $130,000 in the current fiscal year on studies of pension plans and telecommunications. These factors could result in a net reduction of the general-fund balance from $5,010,163 to $4,757,000 at the end of the fiscal year.
Bullock said that he and new Planning Zoning & Building Director Robin Meyer plan to examine the current building fee structure.
For the current fiscal year, building revenues met expenses — but only because of the significant fees paid by Publix Super Markets Inc. and CVS Caremark Corp.
“If we need a Publix and CVS every year to meet expenses, it might be a problem,” Bullock said.
The commission also discussed the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center and the possibility of redesigning the rate structure to cover all expenses.
Commissioners questioned funding for some organizations, including Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) and Manatee County trolley funds.
The preliminary budget prepared last week allots funding to organizations in amounts identical to those in last year’s budget.
The commission will set maximum millages for the upcoming fiscal year at its July 2 regular meeting and will receive its recommended budget document Aug. 1.
For more information, pick up a June 14 copy of the Longboat Observer.
Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].
