Bradenton Beach commissioners reached consensus to keep the next city budget on an even keel from this year.
The commission met July 12 for an overview of the 2022-23 tentative budget.
Mayor John Chappie addressed the issue of property taxation and said the city might not need to raise the millage from the 2.339 rate set by the commission in fiscal 2021-22.
Property taxes in Florida are collected based on millage rates. A millage rate is one-10th of a percent, which equates to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in property value.
An owner whose home is appraised at $500,000, with a 2.3329 millage rate would pay $1,166.45 in property taxes.
Thompson said the tentative rate could change should the city face unforeseen problems like a hurricane before the budget is adopted in September.
Based on the city’s certification of taxable value the city could expect to realize $2,003,867 in ad valorem in fiscal 2022-23 as compared with 2021-22’s $1,713,565.
During the work meeting, city clerk Terri Sanclemente reviewed proposed expenses for administration and commission.
“When the department heads got together this year, we were looking at the numbers,” she said. “When we did, we decided that the best thing we could do for the city would be to not take raises this year and just do the cost of living at 6%.”
Administration budgeted expenditures would be raised $14,511 from this year’s $680,975. Sanclemente said the increase is mainly due to cost of living.
Police Chief John Cosby said expenditures for the police department would increase $240,032 for 2022-23, resulting in a proposed budget of $1,604,608.
The increases are mainly for hiring another officer and overtime.
Cosby also said emergency operations would see a $51,400 increase in spending due to the purchase of anti-ransomware software and information technology professional services.
Building official Steve Gilbert said code enforcement would see a $9,876 raise in spending due to salary increases.
Budgeting for planning would increase from $437,668 to $447,117.
Spending for administering the community rating system program would increase $3,308 for salary and insurance.
Tom Woodard, head of public works, did not attend the meeting. The proposed budget for the Historic Bridge Street Pier, stormwater, streets and roadways was reviewed by commissioners via a letter from Woodard.
Pier budgeting would rise $300, the streets and roads budget would decrease by $65,043 and stormwater budgeting would see inflation-based increases to pay for salaries, gas, oil and tires.
Facilities budgeting would rise from $108,308 to $112,309, showing a $4,001 increase mainly in taxes and insurance.
The main year-over-year differences in the tentative budget came in the form of capital projects expenses.
Police capital projects include an $88,000 allotment for new police vehicles while street and roads projects were projected to rise by $50,000, with $13,000 for tree trimming and $37,000 for an electric utility cart.
Facilities capital project expenditures would increase $20,000 for roof repair to buildings.
Each section of the tentative budget was approved unanimously by the commission.
The city is using a working millage rate of 2.3329 mills.
A final millage rate will be adopted in September, when the budget is adopted.
To not raise taxes, under Florida law, a municipality must adopt a rollback rate, which in Bradenton Beach is 2.0210 mills, according to the city’s certification of taxable value worksheet.
The final budget will be adopted in September, for a fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Two public hearings are set: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, and noon Thursday, Sept. 15, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
By the numbers
2022-23 budget
Proposed expenditures: $4,173,261
Proposed revenues: Not yet available
Proposed reserve spending: Not yet available
Tentative millage rate: 2.3329
Rollback rate: 2.0210
Total assessed property value: $858,959,630
2021-22 budget
Expenditures: 3,631,757
Revenues: $4,184,065
Reserve spending: 115,512
Millage rate: 2.3329
Rollback rate: 2.2254
Assessed property value: $735,012,499
2022-23 proposed budget expenditures
At a glance
Administration: $695,486
Commission: $185,311
Police: $1,604,608
Emergency operations: $72,900
Code enforcement: $87,600
Planning: $447,117
Community rating system: $48,147
Pier: $65,100
Streets, roads: $403,374
Stormwater: $216,088
Facilities: $112,309
Sanitation: $2,000
Police capital projects: $88,000
Streets/roads capital projects: $ 50,000
Stormwater capital projects: $8,500
Facilities capital projects: $86,641
Total: $4,173,261