Ranch CDDs adopt budgets

Assessment changes will vary from an average $37 decrease in CDD 5 to a $253 increase in CDD 6.

By Pam Eubanks
| 6:00 a.m. August 26, 2015

Roger Sutton receives his 10-year service award from Ryan Heise, director of operations of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

East County
News

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch community development districts have set their budgets for the new fiscal year, aiming to keep cost increases minimal for residents by utilizing surplus funds.

Supervisors in CDDs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 adopted their fiscal year 2016 budgets Aug. 20. All district budgets are set to increase slightly, but only CDD 6 residents will see assessment increases higher than 5%, with an average 13.4% increase, to satisfy reserve needs for roads, as indicated in a pavement management study completed this year.

Overall, budget increases stem largely from costs passed through by the Inter-District Authority Board, which oversees issues common to its member districts, including the addition of two new positions, a purchasing manager and utilities technician, as well as computer systems/technology improvements, security and expenses related to Town Hall, administration and operation.

In other business

IDA

The Inter-District Authority Board congratulated longtime irrigation technician Roger Sutton with an award for 10 years of service. Town Hall Operations Director Ryan Heise praised Sutton’s work ethic.

“He goes the extra step constantly,” Heise said. “He always does a good job monitoring our contractors. He’s been instrumental in the irrigation upgrades we’ve done over the last five years.”

CDD 1

Supervisors approved a contract for lake maintenance services with Aquatic Systems for FY 2016 for $62,364 annually.

Supervisors approved a conservation maintenance agreement with Altec Lakes & Nature Areas for FY 2016 and FY 2017 for $10,3000 annually.

CDD 2 & 5

• Supervisors approved contracts for lake maintenance services with Aquatic Systems for FY 2016 for $93,060 annually in CDD 2 and $7,964 annually in CDD 5.

Supervisors approved a conservation maintenance agreement with Altec Lakes & Nature Areas for FY 2016 and FY 2017 for $10,968 annually in CDD 2 and $101,580 in CDD 5.

Supervisors voted to renew a contract for the use of off-duty Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies for patrols and a cost increase of $5 per hour for a rate of $42 per hour, at a three-hour minimum.

CDD 2 supervisors approved the use of district property for the Nov. 22 Harvest Hustle 5K and the Oct. 31 Boo Run.

CDD 4

• Supervisors approved a conservation maintenance agreement contract with Altec Lakes and Natural Areas for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for an annual amount of $5,614, the same as FY 2015.

Supervisors approved a lake maintenance contract with Aquatic systems for FY 2016 in the amount of $99,900, the same as FY 2015.

CDD 6

Supervisors approved a conservation maintenance agreement contract with Altec Lakes and Natural Areas for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for an annual amount of $2,700 the same as FY 2015.

Supervisors approved a lake maintenance contract with Aquatic systems for FY 2016 in the amount of $30,564 the same as FY 2015.

Supervisors voted to renew a contract for the use of off-duty Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies for patrols and a cost increase of $5 per hour for a rate of $42 per hour, at a three-hour minimum.

• Supervisors approved a contract with Artistic Pavers & Surfaces to remove and replace pavers on the east and west crosswalks at Edenmore and Wexford, at Balmoral Woods Boulevard. Installation of the new pavers will cost about $6,300.

District budgets also include funding for converting street lights in Lakewood Ranch to LED lighting, a project that will cost about $352,000 across four districts, but is projected to save them more than $1.5 million longterm.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].