HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 032309 WorkshopI CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
2 CITY COUNCIL
3 BUDGET WORKSHOP
4 MARCH 23, 2009
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6 The budget workshop was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Joseph Russo.
7 I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
8 H. ROLL CALL
9 Present; Mayor Joseph Russo, Vice Mayor David Levy, Councilmember Eric Jablin,
10 Councilmember Jody Barnett and Councilmember Robert Premuroso.
11 Also seated at the table were City Manager Ron Ferris, Interim City Attorney R. Max
12 Lohman and Deputy Finance Administrator Mary Anderson- Pickle.
13 III. WORKSHOP
14 Issues involved with the upcoming ,budget were discussed including: maintaining the
15 present tax rate, returning to the rollback rate, minor upward adjustment in tax rate,
16 possible tax cuts, reserves, pension fund deficits, salary increases, benefits, possible
17 reduction in staffing, possible four -day work week, maintaining services at present levels,
18 the privatization of cultural events and projects for the five -year plan.
19 Mayor Russo believes the assessed property values for this year may be lower than
20 anticipated and is not in favor of increasing tax rates during this economic time and that
21 we can make cuts and maintain services.
22 Vice Mayor Lew is not opposed to going back to the rollback rate and believes many
23 residents have moved to Palm Beach Gardens because of the services available, which
24 increases property values and stated the property appraisals are necessary.
25 Councilmember Jablin agreed with Vice Mayor Levy, but is not opposed to a minor
26 adjustment upward or using money from the reserve fund and stated resident feedback is
27 necessary and he believes people may be willing to pay a little bit more to maintain
28 present service levels.
29 Councilmember Barnett believes drastic cuts in service will not be necessary, is
30 opposed to a tax increase and considers a tax cut a possibility for next year.
31 Councilmember Premuroso would like to hold the millage rate at 5.25 and is not in
32 favor of using reserve funds for operating expenses, but agreed to using reserve funds for
33 the $2.2 million capital improvements.
34 City Manaser Ferris explained the pension report will be available this year, but if a
35 financial issue exists payment will not come from the 2009 -2010 or 2010 -2011 budgets
36 and stated preliminary property appraisal numbers will be available in June and actual
37 property appraisal numbers in July. Public budget workshops to be held in various
38 locations after the preliminary budget is developed were suggested.
39 Changes to the budget process will include: hold individual meetings with Council
40 members, hold additional workshop after the individual discussions, take budget
41 presentations to residents in the month of June, and hold one budget workshop at City
42 Hall.
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CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP PAGE
03.23.09
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IV. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Jablin made a motion to adjourn.
Vice Mayor Lew seconded.
Motion passed, 5 -0.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
APPROVED:
//� L�
Jody Barnett, Councilme er
Robert G. Premuroso, Councilmember
ATTEST:
Patricia Snider, CMC
City Clerk
Note: These minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
All referenced attachments on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
03.23.09
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