CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: August 23, 2021
Agenda Date: September 14, 2021
Prepared By: Lora Howell, Deputy Finance Director
Through: Rebecca Bowman, MBA, CGFO, CGFM, Finance Director
Stockton Whitten, City Manager
Requested Action:
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Conduct a Public Hearing on the tentative millage rate and tentative budget and:
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-080 adopting a tentative millage rate of 6.4532 mills, for the City of Cocoa, commencing on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022.
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-081 adopting the FY2022 tentative budget and CIP for the City of Cocoa Fiscal Year, commencing on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022.
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BACKGROUND:
On July 27, 2021, the City Council approved Resolution 2021-060 establishing the rolled-back millage rate of 5.8749 and a proposed millage rate of 6.4532 mills, which represents an increase of 9.84% over the rolled-back rate and is characterized as the percentage increase in property taxes tentatively adopted by the City Council pursuant with section 200.065(2)(c), Florida Statutes.
The proposed millage rate of 6.4532 mills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 is an increase of 7.93% over the adopted FY 2021 millage rate of 5.9790 mills. The City of Council also set the date, time and place of the Public Hearing to consider the Final Millage Rate and the FY 2022 Final Budget as September 28, 2021, at 65 Stone Street, Cocoa, Fl. 32922 at 6:00p.m.
Pursuant with section 200.065, Florida Statutes, the City Council must conduct a public hearing on the proposed millage rate and tentative budget within 65-80 days of certification of taxable value to the property appraiser. A second hearing is required 97-100 days after certification to adopt the final millage rate and budget. During each of these hearings, the law requires that “the first substantive issue discussed shall be the percentage increase in millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget, if any, and the specific purposes for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased.” During such discussion, the City Council shall hear comments regarding the proposed increase and the City will explain the reasons for the proposed increase over the rolled-back rate. Further, section 200.065, Florida Statutes, also requires the City Council to adopt the tentative millage rate prior to adopting the tentative budget.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
To provide transparency during the TRIM (Truth in Millage) and Budget process for accountability to the taxpayers of the City of Cocoa. Through the strategic planning process, the City committed to develop a financially sustainable revenue base to support and deliver high quality municipal services. A financial analysis provided by the consulting firm of Stantec indicated the need for the City to maintain its current millage rate, as one of the many recommendations, to place the City on a path of fiscal sustainability over the next five to ten years.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
The City budgeted 97% of the gross ad valorem revenue of $7,885,934 for FY 2022, which equals $7,649,355. This results in an increase of $1,022,451 over the FY 2021 budget of $6,626,904.
Total FY 2022 Budget, All Funds: $145,575,600
PREVIOUS ACTION:
July 27, 2021, Resolution 2021-60 established the rolled back millage rate, adopted a Proposed Tentative Millage Rate, and set the date, time, and place of the first Public Hearing to consider the FY 2022 Budget.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
Conduct a Public Hearing on the tentative millage rate and tentative budget and:
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-080 adopting a tentative millage rate of 6.4532 mills, for the City of Cocoa, commencing on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022.
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-081 adopting the FY2022 tentative budget and CIP for the City of Cocoa Fiscal Year, commencing on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022..