March 29, 2024

By the numbers: Council approves FY16 budget

Osceola City Council approved the city’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget during a March 3 council meeting.

“The highlight, in which we’ll draw the most attention, is that we will again be tax-revenue neutral,” said Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk. “This will be the third budget year in a row which we have been able to do that.”

Budget information was published in the Feb. 19 edition of the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune. City officials hadn’t received any written public comments for the public hearing that was held.

By the numbers

In the new budget, the total tax collection for FY16 is $2,364,240. This is of a total budget of $13,572,991.

The estimated total tax levy rate per $1,000 valuation on regular property will go to $14.70. This is up only 2 cents from $14.68 in the current fiscal year.

For capital projects, the city has included allocations for the airport terminal paving, airport hanger project, downtown rehabilitation, Q-Pond trails, old plant pump station sewer project and a possible transfer station project.

The general fund will continue to operate as it has with changes to the city hall staffing. Staffing will be reduced from three full-time staff members to two full-time staff members and a permanent part-time staff member.

Wheeler said the city is hoping to “pull in” the additional hotel/motel tax receipts they’ve been receiving and utilize those additional funds for park and recreation capital projects, which is required by code.

Gas tax

Wheeler also said, within the past couple of weeks, there has been more information on the newly-approved 10-cent gas tax increase. The gas tax will generate an estimate of $81,378 in additional receipts for the road-use fund.

“Those are not in the budget,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we can’t spend them, but it would require a budget amendment, which is perfectly acceptable because I’m sure 900 other cities would be doing the same thing. That is not an issue, but that’s not part of this.”

“Well, you can’t budget for a law that doesn’t exist when you’re writing the budget,” added Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis.

Additional comment

Bill Trickey, executive director of Clarke County Development Corporation, spoke during the public hearing on the budget.

“I just wanted to say thank you in recognition of the council’s hard work on this,” Trickey said. “I’ve been to several of your work sessions and I know you’ve considered these numbers, and I know that the staff has worked very hard on it. I was particularly pleased this year to see the city administrator go over the comprehensive plan with you at the beginning of the budget process, because I think it’s important that you keep perspective on where you’re going long term, as you are plotting the short term course.”