ROUND AND ROUND SHE GOES….

Dear Readers …Once again we began another Budget Workshop season in LBTS…All too familiar were the assertions of being financially stable…”in the black”…Kudos to the sole holder of the checks and balances…the Town Manager…and the all too familiar “jargon” used to skirt the questions…sidestep the point…..and leave us where we were in prior years…with too high a millage rate…too much in the emergency fund..still holding debt…hard to decipher fund transfers…unencumbered balances……….and a fire assessment that should be lowered still…….ARGHHHH…..

We hear the Manager talk once again about reductions  in “total” staff…HUH?…We heard this last year as well…as previously posted…the staff numbers are as confusing as the budget numbers…a look at last years position count …page 14 of the budget available on the Town website……http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/finance-doc.htm …….shows that in we held steady…..as in the past for Administrative…2004-5..10/2005-6…10./2006-7…9/…2008…8/2008-9…8.5/Public Info Officer…2004-5…0/2005-6….0/2006-7…0/2007-8…1/2008-9…1 Public Works 2004-5…17.5/ 2005-6…17.5/2006-7…11/2007-8…..9/2008-9…8 /Development Services…2004-5….6/2005-6…..6/ 2006-7….6/ 2007-8…6/2008-9…4.75/Parking Enforcement….2004-5…..4/2005-6…3/ 2006-7….3/ 2007-8…2/ 2008-9…2/

BC- as posted previously…it looks like a major staff cut took place in 2006-7…until you see this…

called “Community Standards”…2004-5…0/2005-6…0/2006-7….5/2007-8…7/2008-9…7

which includes…Assist. Town Mgr.(which shows 0 in the admin. position cat.beginning in 06-7)…1/ Com. Standards Supervisor…1 (beginning in 06-7)/ Maintenance worker 1…2 (beginning in 06-7)/maintenance worker 2…2 (beginning in 06-7)….

Sewer Fund……2004-5….(pt.) 5/2005-6….(pt.) 5/ 2006-7…1/2007-8…1/ 2008-9….25

BC- the Sewer Fund positions are a Maintenance Worker 1/ Accountant

Parking Fund…….2004-5…1/2005-6….1/ 2006-7….1/2007-8…2/ 2008-9…2

BC- the Parking Fund positions…Meter Repair Tech/Parking Enforcement Officer/Office Specialist

Totals (including Commissioners….5/Town Atty…..1)

TOTAL POSITIONS…2004-5…135/2005-6…134.5/ 2006-7…153.5/ 2007-8…91.5 (no VFD)/ 2008-9…157.5 ( VFD)

We know we added a code enforcement officer…Nikki  (receptionist) was promoted to Office Specialist…unofficially the Deputy Town Clerk…(although we were told when we purchased Granicus it would eliminate the need for a Deputy Town Clerk)…and we know from past posts that the salary in LBTS for 30 hours a week is equal to many municipality salaries at 40 hours a week!…HMMM……….

HOW ABOUT THOSE FEES!…AHHH…THOSE CODE SWEEPS….

From the April 2009 monthly Revenue Report…

PG. 4….Occupational Licenses…Original Budget….$57,708.00/TTD….$66,693.22/ Curr. MTH…$1,017.51

Pg. 4…Fire Review Fees…Original Budget…0/ YTD….$16,632.00/ Curr. MTH…$10,415.00

Pg. 5….Code enforcement Fines….Original Budget…..$8,375.00/ YTD….$28,357.71/ Curr. MTH…$0

BC- pg 5 parking fines…making up for the year…although the bags were not on for the 1st part of the 2008-09 we are approaching the Orig. Budgets!

When you compare the Fiscal Budget online…2009-09 to 2009-10 (in Budget Workshop backup material)…

There are some interesting items.. in 2008-09 & 2009-10 Budget- Capital improvement Fund…

Carryforward Balance …FY 2008-9 Adopted….$674.812./ FY 2008-9YTD…0/ FY 2009-10-Mgr. proposed…$1,706,524

Transfers From General Fund… FY 2008-9 Adopted ….$2,199,599/YTD…$2,199,599/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed….$1,228,961

Other Financing Sources…FY 2008-9 Adopted 0/FY 2008-9 YTD $1,000,000/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed….$0

Debt Payments….

Debt Service Principal.($8.7 million)…FY 2008-9 Adopted $1,052,567/FY 2008-9 YTD $ 543,493/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Propoosed $1,146,545

Debt Serv Interest (8.7 Mil.)….FY 2008-9 Adopted $176,395/ FY 2008-9 YTD $ 70,987/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed $82,416

THE SEWERS IN THE NORTH…

Sanitary Sewer  Design and Permits…PALM CLUB …DESIGN & PERMITS…A WHOPPING AMOUNT!…WHERE’S THE RECEIPTS?…

Terra Mar …FY 2007-08 …$5681/ Bel Air FY 2006-07.. $9,326/FY  2007-8….$8,200/ Palm Club FY 2006-7….$ 48,352/FY  2007-8….$144,452

BC….How is this huge discrepancy possible for design and permits? …We spent $192,804 on Palm Club before pulling the plug!

Bel Air sewers …FY 2007-8…Amended $4,452,846/ FY  2007-8. YTD ..$4,642,787/FY  2007-8 Actual ….$5,199,035

Town Entryway- Flagpoles…FY 2006-07 Actual….$18,098/ FY 2007-08 Amended …$310,000/  FY 2007-8. YTD ..$10,924/ FY 2007-8 Actual…$90,576/ FY 2008-9 Adopted…$160,000/FY 2008-9 Mgr. Proposed….$160,000/ FY 2008-9 YTD …$2,735/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…0

Beach Pavilion…

Melvin Anglin Grant…FY 2008-09 $176,548/ FY 2008-9 YTD….$176,548

Melvin Anglin Pavilion (Town’s portion)…FY 2007-8….$133,669/ FY 2008-9 Adopted ….$203,012/ FY 2008-9YTD $214,636

EL MAR…

Underground wiring -design &  permitting…(2008-9 Budget) FY2009-10 Mgr. proposed..$125,00/( 2009-10 Budget) FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…$125,000

Underground wiring- construction …(2008-9 Budget) FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…$1,4000,000/ (2009-10 Budget) FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…$875,000

Seagrape  & cul-de-sac Beautification Project…(previously called Seagrape Beautification project)

FY 2006-7 Actual…$60,311/ FY 2007-8 Amended …$1,086,161/ FY 2007-8 YTD….$580,926/ FY 2007-8 Actual…$880,618/ FY 2008-9 Adopted….$444,550/ FY 2008-9 YTD…$276,241

Terra Mar Bridge…FY 2007-8 Amended …$125,000/ FY 2008-9 Mgr . Proposed…$125,000/ FY 2008-9 Adopted …$125,000/ FY 2008-9 YTD…0/FY 2009-10 Mgr Proposed…o/ FY 2010-11 Mgr. Proposed…$125,000

Fish Habitat Restoration (coral Reef)…FY 2006-7…$12,000/ FY 2007-8 Amended…$64,500/FY 2007-8 YTD…0/FY 2008-9 Adopted…$64,500/ 2008-9 YTD….$250/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…$64,500

Bus Shelters…(2008-9 Budget)..FY 2008-9 Adopted…$85,000/ FY 2008-9 YTD…0/ FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed …$85,000/ FY 2010-11 Mgr. Proposed….$93,500/ (2009-10 Budget)…FY 2009-10 Mgr. Proposed…0/ FY 2010-11 Mgr. Proposed…$85,000

The Workshop….

FIRE ASSESSMENT….

The Town Manager went over the presentation that Burton and Assoc. made (previous posts)…the recommendations made…and her recommendation which was for keeping the same $130 annual fire assessment fee which would hold steady for both 2009-10 & 2010-11…Comm. Dodd inquired about how much it would drop with less VFD medical calls…but the Town Manager played coy and said the VFD has a contract with a 4% annual increase…adding they [VFD] are a private corporation…(meaning we the Town have no control over their budget…remember this if and when the VM/Dep Chief puts the VFD Referendum item back on!)…Comm. Dodd then made the point that the VFD and other contractors should be asked to forgo the 4-5% annual increase…

BC- Readers may recall the Commission did not take their increase last year…. In the new 6/11/09 was the following…

‘HOLLYWOOD – For the second year in a row, Hollywood city commissioners on Thursday showered City Manager Cameron Benson with praise and high-fives during his annual evaluation.

But by his choice, he won’t be getting the 4 percent annual raise his contract calls for.

“Given what we have in the budget, and in the economy, I think I can stay status quo,” said Benson, whose his city is looking at a potential $17.9 million deficit and massive layoffs later this year.

It is the second year in a row he declined a raise in his $201,115 salary.

Benson is Broward’s seventh highest paid city manager, and ranks behind counterparts in some smaller cities, including Hallandale Beach and Tamarac.’

BC- The contractors/ Commission/ Administration  should  be asked and the VFD especially should forgo an increase!

Commissioner Dodd also asked about the Pension Actuary & Auditor at approx. $14,000 annually…again the Town Manager did a “song and dance” …and rather than explain specifics  she explained the difference of the jobs…that 3 reports were required…What she did not say was it is a minimal amt. of time…out of line with the cost!…Comm. Dodd also asked about the VFD Beach Patrol and if that constituted as EMS rather than fire…and if it represents a possible problem for being a part of the fire assessment…The Town Atty. said she had not been asked to look into this…The Town Manager admonished the Comm. [Dodd] for not asking Burton and Assoc. ahead of this 1st Budget meeting!…Comm. Silvrstone said the VFD does “basic services” as first responders…therefore no problem…(no direction given to check with Burton and Assoc.)…ARGHHH…

The Vice Mayor spoke of the pension plan and said it was paid for with insurance and nobody in the VFD receives any money for the pension ..(Guess he thought people might think his BFF Pension planner Jimmy-boy might be the one getting paid)…He added the taxpayers pay nothing…BUT the Town Manager interjected and informed him if the plan was “unsound” then the taxpayers will make up the difference…OOPS!

BC- we have heard there was a problem with the VFD last year and possibly there were penalties….which angered the TM and therefor we now have a pension actuary and auditor to the tune of $14,000………HMMM……

Comm. Silverstone blamed the BSO for illegally removing $14,000…and that the VFD paid for it…

The Commissioners were not allowed to vote…due to this being a workshop…but were allowed to say their choice…Comm. Dood was for #2 (stick with the $130)/ VM chose to pass temporarily (HUH?)/ Comm. Clottey – #2/ Mayor-#2/ Vice Mayor carefully chose his words…”I agree with that.”…( juggling with a possible conflict of interest?)…HMMM…

THE MILLAGE……

The Manager said the assessed property values went down almost 9%…She went on to talk of doing El Mar (see above… Oriana million…for south of Commercial only/ the Coral Reef (Fish Habitat Restoration Project…a 2 year project…no grant……see above)/A1A scenic Highway…(FY 2009-10 58,000 for the drawings…and approx. $600,000 to match funds…) and  maintaining the current millage 3.99o…She spoke of the Terra Mar Bridge and the Bus Shelter being moved to 2010-11 (see above)…and transferring $1.2 million from the General Fund (see above…th $1 million is from Oriana after coming out of a Cherof held escrow account in April)…into the Capital Imp. Fund…The Majority on the dais fell all over themselves to say how keeping a 3.990 millage was really something…and although we might not all see a decrease due to what may come from the county portion…aren’t we lucky…VM McIntee and BFF Silverstone gave high-fives to the Manger..who gave her customary…lines (see above)…..reduction in staff positions…and hours…and the VFD…and holding back on Capital Improvements…(2 million on a Public Safety Complex…is holding back?)….Comm. Dodd again asked for some specifics on the year end projections in the General Fund…The Town Manager had none…Comm. Dodd asked about the El mar underground wiring…saying the Oriana million is for beautification…Comm. Silverstone interjected it was 2 separate items…which later proved incorrect…although at first the TM said it did not say for what…she had to admit the 1 million was from Oriana…the “underground wiring” was a mistake…it was only for beautification…OOPS! (on the south end only!)…Comm. Clottey once again proved she doesn’t think before she speaks…she reiterated the Mayor of some residents seeing an increase even with the same 3.990 millage but she added that it was for those who are homesteaded so it really wasn’rt a large number of people…HUH?…OUCH!….

The Vice Mayor…perhaps setting the stage to remove the BSO police tried to put Comm. Dodd on the spot asking if they too should forgo their 5.3% increase…Comm. Dodd replied that all should be asked…Quite interesting ….later in the evening Comm. Clottey feigned ignorance in the removal of the BSO police…coming from her or the dais…(We hear Marc Furth …her mentor is credited with making these statements…along with her other Gang-pals)…OOPS!…

The Manager informed and was unfortunately fully backed by the Commission to take the all too familiar tact of keeping the higher millage of 4.795…”because it can always be lowered”…but cannot be raised…But this writer would have liked to have seen a “maverick” in the bunch call for a3.990…and then go for even lowered…cutting back on the bloated emergency fund …and the unencumbered $…among other funds not fully divulged…

Capital Improvements were contained within the Millage discussion…

full text ...http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/workshopbackup2009.htm

more to come……..

Tags: budget, fire assessmnet, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, millage, Scoops
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