City of Miramar Budget Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2023 - September 29, 2022
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
City of Miramar Budget Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2023 - September 29, 2022
On September 29, 2022, the Miramar City Commission held a Budget Public Hearing to adopt the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, millage rate, and capital improvement plan. The meeting included presentations from staff, public comment (none registered), and discussion among commissioners. All items were passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public registered to speak or participated in the hearing.
Discussion Items
-
Millage Rate and Final Budget (Items 1 & 3): Rafael Sanmiguel, Management & Budget Director, presented the proposed FY2023 budget. The total proposed budget is $355 million, with a general fund of $202 million (57% of total). The millage rate is set at 7.1172 mills, a 9.59% increase over the rollback rate of 6.4943 mills. For an average homestead property, the taxable value increased by ~$7,500, resulting in an average tax increase of $53.13 per year ($4.42 per month). For average commercial property, the increase is $218. The budget maintains existing services with no millage rate increase, but rising property values generate additional revenue. The general fund increased by $15.5 million (8%) from FY2022, driven by rising personnel costs (collective bargaining, pensions, healthcare). Key new positions: police social worker, deputy police chief, marketing staff (4 positions), and a nursing scholarship pilot program of $100,000. Commissioner Davis inquired about the nursing scholarship, suggesting it be expanded to other disciplines. Commissioner Chambers, who proposed the scholarship, explained it targets low-income residents seeking LPN certification. The mayor offered a workshop to define the program's scope, and the commission agreed to allocate the $100,000 and discuss further. Commissioner Davis also raised questions about the police department's deputy chief position (funded as a new position) and marketing positions. The fire chief reported a 24-hour turnaround on fire permits and a $6.5 million SAFER grant to add 15 firefighters. The police chief reported that all vacancies are filled (228 officers) and recruitment is ongoing.
-
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) (Item 2): Assistant Director Barbara McClary and Stacy Balkeran presented the FY2023-2027 CIP, originally 87 projects totaling $190.9 million, amended to $192.1 million. The CIP includes park improvements (new pickleball courts, water park feature at Regional Park), street resurfacing ($1.05 million), LED streetlight upgrades, canal vegetation removal, town center enhancements, sidewalk projects, water utility improvements (well-field generator replacement, lift station upgrades), and IT projects (Wi-Fi in parks, smart city surveillance, audio-visual upgrades). Commissioner Chambers proposed adding two projects to the CIP: a bi-directional radio amplifier program for schools to improve SRO and public safety communications, and a buffer wall for the Miramar Parkway extension. Commissioners supported adding these to the CIP list for future planning, with discussion on funding and coordination with Broward County Schools. No formal vote was taken on the additions; the CIP resolution was approved as amended with the tentative budget changes.
-
Commission Secretaries COLA (Item 4): Commissioner Davis proposed a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for commission secretaries, increasing the maximum compensation from $85,490 to $89,765. The adjustment was approved.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Approved unanimously (5-0) – Ordinance O1796 establishing the ad valorem tax millage rate of 7.1172 mills for FY2023.
- Item 2: Approved unanimously (5-0) – Resolution R7724 adopting the FY2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program as amended (87 projects, $192.1 million).
- Item 3: Approved unanimously (5-0) – Ordinance O1795 adopting the final FY2023 operating and capital budget ($355 million total, $202 million general fund).
- Item 4: Approved unanimously (5-0) – Resolution R7752 providing a 5% COLA for commission secretaries, increasing max compensation to $89,765.
- Nursing Scholarship: The commission agreed to allocate $100,000 for scholarships and hold a workshop to define eligible disciplines and program details.
- CIP Additions: Commissioner Chambers' proposals to add a bi-directional radio amplifier program for schools and a buffer wall for Miramar Parkway extension were discussed and supported by the commission for inclusion in the CIP planning list, though not formally voted on.
Meeting Transcript
Forward to win it again. It's a great thing for the cities to come together because we are neighbors and as we said, we should love our neighbors. So please, those are out there were pleading, we're asking to trust your local police to come here. You can remain anonymous, leave your weapon here, then we will provide an appropriate amount, whether it's a rifle, a shotgun, or handgun, up to $100, up to $150. I will continue to do on an annual basis because I think as much as we don't have control of a lot of the out here today by Bravo Supermarkets in our historic neighborhood with our community and cups program. We want to make sure that folks know that the police are accessible. And it's not just when there's an issue that they have an interaction. Everybody's here. Any person may be heard by the city commission through the chair, and upon registering, pursuant to the published notice for not more than three minutes on any proposition before the hearing, unless modified by the chair. This public hearing is being streamed live at Miramarfl.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for City of Miramar subscribers. As of September 29th at 512 p.m. No members from the public have registered to participate in the meeting in listen mode and listen and listen only mode. If someone registered after said time and would like to speak, they can raise their hand and at the appropriate time our IT staff will unmute their mic to allow them to speak. Please be sure to mention your name and address for the record prior to addressing the commission. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Barnes. Here. Commissioner Chambers. Vice Mayor Colburn. Here. Commissioner Davis. Here. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Norris Weeks. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. Let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Before we go into our public hearing, I would like to express our thoughts and prayers to our neighbors on the Southwest Coast and Central Florida for enduring a very catastrophic hurricane Ian. There's an untold number of loss of life and damage to property, and which may be one of the largest hurricanes to hit our state, at least in in recent times. Um so let's um continue to keep the Floridians in impacted areas of our states uh in our thought and prayers. There will be one presentation to cover both items one and three on our agenda. And at this time I have city attorney to read uh the title for item number one, please. An ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Miramar, Florida establishing and adopting the City of Miramar advalorium tax operating millage levy rate at 7.1172 mills or $7.112 per household per thousand dollars of taxable assessed property value for the 2022 tax year, which is 9.59 percent greater than the rollback rate of 6.4943 mills providing for conflicts, providing for an effective date. Chapter 200.065 subsection 2E1, Florida statutes require requires that the governing body of the city shall adopt its proposed millage rate prior to adopting its tentative budget. The establishment of a millage rate is necessary to generate adval tax revenues, which in part are necessary to fund the general budget, the general fund budget. The city has proposed a millage rate of 7.1172 mills. This rate constitutes a 9.59% increase compared with the rollback rate of 6.4943 mills. The rolled back rate is the rate that would be needed to bring in the same advalorem tax revenue as last year. In addition, Section 200.0652D, Florida statutes requires that prior to the adoption of the millage levy, the mayor make the following public announcement. The proposed millage rate set by the Mayor Mars City Commission on July 6, 2022, was 7.1172 mills. At the first budget hearing on September 14, 2022, the City Commission adopted the proposed millage rate of 7.1172 mills, representing a 9.59% increase compared with the rollback rate of 6.4943 mills, which is necessary to fund the budget. We, as the governing body of the city commission, shall now hear a presentation from staff regarding the proposed millage rate and the budget. Good evening, uh Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners and Staff. Rafael St. Miguel with the management and budget department. So the budget philosophy for the next uh fiscal year is to bring you a fiscally responsible budget that maintains the high level of existing services that each resident has come to expect. It also maintains the quality of life for residents and businesses throughout the uh city.
openpublica.com