Bradenton Beach city commissioners are in danger of missing an important deadline.
Commissioners must send their proposed millage rate to Manatee County Property Appraiser Charles E. Hackney by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, however, no budget planning meeting has been set before the deadline.
Attempts to reach Mayor Jack Clarke about the meeting schedule by email July 27 were unsuccessful.
Department heads have had at least one closed budget meeting, but the city commission has neither met nor announced the date of two required public hearings for the budget.
Commissioners in September 2014 approved a budget of $3.03 million for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
One of the items commissioners likely will discuss is what to do with the $320,000 paid in 2014 by Florida Tower Partners for the 150-foot cell tower erected adjacent to the public works building on Church Avenue.
The tower has not been without controversy. It remains to be seen whether allocating the payment will spawn a debate, but there’s also an expected windfall coming from a BP settlement.
Vice Mayor Ed Straight said he believes the funds should be used to initiate a five-year replacement plan for city vehicles.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said the funds ought to be placed in the city reserve fund.
Commissioner Janie Robertson confirmed no budget meetings are scheduled. She opted to apply the cell tower funds to capital improvement projects and bolster the reserve fund. — Ed Scott