After a 15-minute first hearing Sept. 7, Anna Maria city commissioners are ready for their final budget review for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The city’s projected revenue and expenses are more than $4 million for the coming year due largely to increased property assessments. The mayor attributed the increased revenue to non-homesteaded construction — vacation homes — and development of vacant lots.
Commissioners approved a millage rate of 2.05 for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, the same as the current millage, but it represents a 9.84 percent tax increase for Anna Maria property owners.
Anna Maria also is projecting a greater allocation of revenue from the 5-cent gas tax than either Bradenton Beach or Holmes Beach.
“We got that for road work we’ve done,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said. The gas tax is allocated at the county level, based on infrastructure development and improvements. Murphy has planned paving and drainage projects on city roads and says he intends to continue doing so.
The city will receive an increase in intergovernmental revenue, including the 5-cent gas tax, from $515,669 for the 2015-16 fiscal year to $596,424 for 2016-17.
The new budget lacks some funding, including $100,000 from the state of Florida for the Lake LaVista channel dredging and a nearly $85,000 settlement from BP oil, both funded in the current year’s budget.
However, the 2016-17 budget includes a slight $260,000 increase in revenue from stormwater utility payments, up from $230,000.
After an influx of Bert Harris claims, the 2015-16 budget for attorney’s fees swelled by $69,000. However, the property owner’s claims that the city devalued their properties are expected to decrease in the coming year. So the city is earmarking $277,000 in the 2016-17 budget for attorney’s fees.
Total operating expenses decreased from $1,997,334.09 in the current year to $1,985,145 for the coming fiscal year.
Personnel expenses have grown from $797,837.66 to $1,114,908 for 2016-17, primarily due to an increase in the number of contract employees under employment expense as opposed to increasing salaried personnel and benefits.
Project maintenance for 2016-17 is expected to cost $1,148,030, an increase from the 2015-16 year budget of $974,192.60.
Increased loan payments to Hancock Bank to pay off a balance owed for Pier Park at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Bay Boulevard are included in the costs. Expected maintenance and improvement projects in the park amount to $250,000.
No public comment was made at the meeting, which was sparsely attended.
The final public hearing and vote on the millage and budget ordinance will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Anna Maria
2016-17 tentative budget
Total proposed budget expenditures: $4,738,514
Total proposed budget revenues: $4,738,514
Reserve fund: $2,456,057
Proposed reserve spending: $0
Proposed millage rate: 2.05
Rollback rate: 1.8664
Total assessed property value: $949,309,689
2015-16 budget
Budget expenditures: $4,310,858.15
Budget revenues: $4,310,858.15
Reserve fund: $2,361,633
Reserve spending: $0
Millage rate: 2.05
Rollback rate: 1.8839
Assessed property value: $853,165,285