It’s official: Holmes Beach has set a millage rate and approved a budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Commissioners unanimously approved the proposed 2.25 millage rate and $12,354,643 budget Sept. 27 during a special meeting and public hearing. The new budget went into effect Oct. 1.
Commissioner Marvin Grossman was absent.
The 2.25 millage rate — the amount paid per $1,000 of assessed property value — represents a 6.18 percent tax increase for property owners, according to city treasurer Lori Hill. Though the millage rate is the same as last year, higher property values resulted an increase in ad valorem revenue of about $120,000 for the city.
To avoid a tax increase and receive the same amount in taxes as last year, the city would have had to adopt the 2.1191 rollback rate.
The only public comment came in the form of a letter from Holmes Beach resident Jim Kihm. In the letter, Kihm questions why the city’s budget is based on numbers from last year’s budget rather than financial statements, which are available through August and show a variation from the budgeted numbers.
“It’s a matter of timing on things,” Mayor Bob Johnson said. “There are bills that are just coming in. They come in over time.”
Hill also addressed Kihm’s concerns. She said with billing 60 days out, she doesn’t expect to have a full picture of the city’s spending and revenue from the 2015-16 fiscal year until the end of November or even December, when an audit of the previous fiscal year is planned.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said she would like the city to remain in touch with Kihm and provide him with up-to-date financial statements as they are available.
Copies of the budget are available in the lobby at city hall and online at www.holmesbeachfl.org.
Commissioners will next meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.