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Minutes 09-20-82MINUTES OF THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING HELD IN CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 AT 7:30 P.M. PRESENT Walter Marty Trauger, Mayor James R.. Warnke, Vice Mayor Joe deLong, Councilman Patricma Woolley, Councilmember Samuel L. Wright, Councilman Peter L. Cheney City Manager Betty Boroni Deputy City Clerk James Vance City Attorney Mayor Trauger called the Hearing to order at 7:30 P.M. and announced that the City Council is holding this public hearing to make its final decision on the millage rate and budget for the next fiscal year. He stated that, at the current point, the millage rate has been established at 5.1822. For those who had questions on the budget, and specific points, Mayor Trauger explained they could do so in the following two ways: 1. There were forms on the table mn the back of the room they could fill in, and the Mayor would call upon them in sequence as he received them. 2. Forthose who-~did not Care to~filt in~sucha form,.at the-conclusion of rea~ding~the~form~, the Mayor would ask if there is anyone mn the audience who wishes to speak pro and con any program which ms in this current city budget; then they may come to the podium, give their names, and speak to the council. For the introduction and explanation of the budget, the Mayor called upon the City Manager. Mr. Cheney said, basically, the budget is dependent this year upon actions taken by the state legislature. Last year, our millage rate in total was 6.643; this year, our millage rate, so far, tentatively established, is 5.1822 and cannot go above 5.1822 because the legislature has clearly said that because we are getting benefits from the new sales tax, which happens to be for the City of Boynton Beach about a million dollars, we have to provide t~x relief in~ the form.of an aggregate roll-back (as it is called this year) of the millage rate. The aggregate roll-back of the millage rate causes us to col- lect in taxes no more than the dollars we collected last year minus $400,000.00 - in other words 40!% of the sales tax must be used to offset and reduce property taxes. Therefore, because of the state legislature and because of. the tremendous desire of the many citizens to roll back property taxes, we are at a point where our property taxes are rolled back to the point well below last year. That's made the preparation of the budget this year very difficult because we have a fixed maximum that we can get in property taxes. We don't have any choice. No matter how many programs we want to do this year, we cannot - 1 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 raise the taxes to make those programs possible. We have about twelve million dollars in the General Fund budget. Part of that twelve million dollars is there because we are increas- ing this year, for example the sanitation 'rates. If we didn't increase the sanitation rates, we would have to cut back about a couple hundred.thousand dollars. Because we're limited in property taxes and because we have raised the sanitation rates, we have a fixed limit'on the budget that we have to live within. Mr. Cheney continued to say that there are many programs we would like to do this year and many places we would like to spend money, but to a degree we jlust don't have the ability (the opportunity) to carry out those additional programs. Mr. Cheney noted that there are some increases in services, primarily a level of services equal to last year. Any decisions made now relative to the millage or relative to the expendi- tures will affect some other program. That's the General Fund. Regarding the Utility Fund, Mr. Cheney noted that originally the recommendation was a 54~ increase in order to keep the annual operating part'self supporting. That is a significant increase in one year .and the 'feeling .was that maybe 30, 35, or 40~ increase in utilities charges this year is more reasonable. As a result, an increase of 35~ was proposed and as of the last meeting (Saturday, September llth), Council indicated that 35~ appeared to be'the right level. That doesn't mean 35~ increase in the utilityrate is going to balance the utility fund- - the operat- ing funds for this year. It won't, he advised. We will trans- fer some money from the Capital Fund of the Utility System (the fund balance) into the Operating Fund for this year, and then we will come back next year and ask for an additional increase in the utility rates to catch up to the point where the utility Operating Fund, as an annual operating activity, is self support- ing. Mr. Cheney said those are the main two major budgets we're talk- ing about. We also have a General Revenue Sharing Fund, but that's limited only to Social Services and for the 10~ of what we receive in General Revenue~SharingFundsand alt the rest~of it for capital expenditures. Everything in.that fund proposed .for expenditures is for capital items. Hearing no questions from Council, Mayor Trauger introduced Mr. Charles Whitaker, new reporter for the Miami Herald. Mayor Trauger proceeded to read questions from the audience: "I want to make sure and hear Mr. Cheney say that West Ocean Avenue, the 400 block and the N.W. 1st Avenue and the S.W. 1st Avenue is in the budget. This concerns the flooding we have, even with as little as ~" rainfall."/s/Mrs. Mac Engel - 2 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Mayor Trauger asked Mrs. Engel if she had anything more to say. Mrs. Engel said she just wants to make sure that area is in the budget because there was money for that situation and it was taken out and spent elsewhere. Mayor Trauger explained that it was only on a priority list that was designated last year as what City Council put together and what they considered with the City Engineer and to. review as to the priorities in naming the areaswith the worst flooding on down to the least, to the extent of the money. He said that was set with those funds; although they knew as the year and the flooding developed this year, there are others in addition with perhaps greater flood- ing than those they toOk care of in the budget. They are revising a new list, and to that list they haveadded many (not to specific street addresses) but they've provided money into the budget for swaling and the repair of street damage to prevent flooding to the extent' of the.~amount of money that is in the budget this year. Mr. Cheney advised $100,000.00 is proposed in the budget for drainage, this year. Mrs. Engel asked if W..~Ocean Avenue is in that budget this year. Mr. Cheney said the specific list of projects has not yet been chosen. A list of many drainage projects will be prepared in order of those that .are most serious. By the most .serious, he means those that really affect property value, tend to affect houses themselves, and not just those that may be temporarily inconvenienced. That list will be presented to Council in some priority order and the council will review that list and decide what projects will be done. Mr. Cheney further advised that if we keep the level of'expendi- tures for drainage up where it has been the last two or three years, pretty soon most of these problems will have been solved. He noted that is a dangerous thing to say because everytime one is solved, some others pop up somewhere, but they'll get at it. Mrs. Engel said they are newcomers in the area but they are in a terrible situation, and they understood that they were given a priority (about 3 months ago) - that this was number one on the list. Mr. Cheney said they indicated it was on the list and had high priority, but a lot of projects had high priority. He was not saying her street wouldn't be done, he was simply saying that it was one of those projects that's "up there". Mr. Cheney noted that a year ago, they would not have been discussing LakeBoYnton Esta~S.~ (on .thee west side of I'-95) but this year it 'suddenly became more than the top of the list, it became a disaster area.almost. Since then, the City has been in there and put in storm drain pipe, and the city haS been working with DOT and has been getting that canal cleaned out along the railroad track. - 3 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Mr. Cheney emphasized that Mrs. Engel's area is one of those that needs to be addressed, but until the list is brought before Council he could not promise anything. The problem is, things happen that cause some neighborhoods to be worse .than hers. He noted that Ocean Parkway and North Palm was one that hadn't been done and this year they had water in that area three weeks in a row. It was a terrible situation - much worse than Mrs. Engel's sitUation. The city has solved that problem now. A year ago that wasn't as high on the list but this year, because of the way the rain storms came, the City solved that. Mr. Cheney assured Mrs. Engel that her area is high up there but if some other unexpected difficult situation comes along that is worse than hers, the City needs the flexibility to re- late to those areas without making too many promises - unless the Council chooses to do that. Mrs. Engel said she brought pictures showing some of her flood- ing. Mr. Cheney and Council said the City is aware of the flooding; they have been over there. Chairman Trauger noted that the money specifically in the part of the budget is the total amount the Council will spend for this. It isn't on any particular street or area. Vice Mayor Warnke wanted to go on record as saying that Mrs. Engel's area is one of the earliest sections of Boynton Beach; it is the original residential Section of Boynton Beach, and he thinks that that area needs a higher priority than some of the other subdivisions that have been built in the past twenty years. Therefore, he stressed to the other members of Council and Mr. Cheney that they should address their efforts toward that area as~much as possible. Mayor Trauger said he Wouldn't deny that but the age or when a settlement was built in the City doesn't create or cause some to be drier than others. When you get flooded, you're just as wet whether you are in an old area or a new one. Councilman Wright assured Mrs. Engel that Council will do what they possibly can. Mildred Cooner, 429 W. Ocean Avenue, came forth and advised that she has resided there for the past 15 years and has been a resident of Boynton for 51 years - before any of the present members were on the City Council. She said there was $5,000.00 appropriated for drainage and the 400 block of West Ocean Avenue. She said the City came out and put a dry well 35 feet inside Mrs. Engel's property-.at'~tha~timethe property, was vacant. When - 4 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 they did have a downpour, Mrs. Engel's property took a lot of that water. When the street was first put in - there are con- crete things on each side of the street; and when that builds up with water, the street floods. It has been knee deep at times when they've had a flash flood. The City put the dry well in and did something else with the money. She said Mr. Warnke had been out there a few times, and she appreciates that. Mayor Trauger said he would see that she is notified when the list is prepared~and the sequence of the priorities. Mayor Trauger read the next item from the questionnaires: "Monies to be used as an increase for 1982-83 Teamster Union Contract between the Police Department Bargaining Unit and the City." /s/ Chris Yannuzzl Mayor Trauger did not believe the council could discuss how much money for an increase or percentages of increase can be granted because this is under a contract negotiation at the present time. Attorney Vance advised that that is correct. Chris Yannuzzi, 106 S.W. 14th Avenue, Patrolman with the Police Department, came forward. Referring to Mr. Cheney's report that the budget this year is twelve million dollars and that there would be approximately one million dollars from the state from the extra one penny sales tax, ~0% of which is used to reduce the millage, Mr. Yannuzzi asked where the other slx hundred thousand dollars has gone. Mr. Cheney replied that a lot of it has gone to pay salaries that they all received last year. He further explained that this year, in a combination of property taxes and sales taxes a~~' an increase over last year's budget for~property taxes, they're to receive $926,000.00. You combine increase in both property and sales over last year's just property (that's $926,000); you take last year's just property taxes as an increase over the previous year's just property taxes, and you had $847,000.00. So the added money they have this year, from property and sales taxes, is about the same as the added money they had the previous year from just property taxes. So they didn't really get a great amount of increased money over what they always got in previous years because of the sales tax, because $400~000.00 is used to reduce property taxes and much of the rest ends up just covering the normal increases that are built into the budget year after year. We really aren't ahead of the previous year. Mr. Cheney noted that one of the increases the City had to include this year was the-increases in salary and costs in equip- Kent 6f previous year. W~hen you consider inflation, we're worse off this year than the previous year from the Point of view of - 5 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 the implements of increase. He said they could see that on Page 3 of the budget message of the budget. The information has been available for a long time. Mr. Cheney said it is hard to explain to people that this million dollars that we got in~ sales tax is not a "pot of gold" that's out there to pick at. That increase is not there. Referring to Mr. Cheney's comments about the need to cut some of the programs if anything was altered, Mr. Yannuzzi asked how much money at this time has been set aside for the Police Department's salaries. Mr. Cheney asked him if he meant Police Department salaries or Police Department salary increase. Mr. Yannuzzi guessed a combination of both. Mr. Cheney advised that he would not find that information in the budget. Mr. Cheney said you will find the proposed payment for the Police Department salary for the coming year, assuming the somewhat automatic annual increase that they get anyway. That's in the budget, The amount that is set aside for compensation adjustment is in the budget in a lump sum item, not previously set out department by department because we adjust salaries for the two departments that have unions as a product of negotiations, where they negotiate not just salaries but other benefits. Mayor Trauger said right now, to the budget, for the increase in salaries this year as over last year, in the salary figure for budget - regular time to the Police Department, ~is an increase of $555,000.00. That is what is set in the budget. The budget is increased for the Police Department. Mr..Yannuzzi asked if that ~epresents equipment and such. Mayor Trauger referred to the straight budget of items. He said beyond that, the City Council as gone overboard this year to give the Police Department practically all (or the major part) of the equipment they mequested. Mayor Trauger referred to the whole list of equipment, and said $170,723.00 is appropriated out of General Revenue Sharing to increase the PoliCe Department equipment. He asked Mr. Yannuzzi if he has seen that listing. Mr. Yannuzzi replied, "Yes, I have." Mayor Trauger asked him if that does the job for him as far as the equipment is concerned. Mr. Yannuzzi said it is not reallY up to him to decide. Mayor Trauger said, "That's right, it's up to the~Chief'' but he wanted Mr. Yannuzzi to be fully cognizant as a policeman that the City Council is trying to give him the very best of equipment. Mr. Yannuzzi said "I can't take that equipment to the bank". Mayor Trauger advised that the equipment makes him a better policeman. Mr. Yannuzzi wanted to bring up another point, and said the Council could let him know if he is out of line'. City Attorney Vance said actually, if he avoids the items that are under negotiation, they won't have a problem. - 6 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Mr. Yannuzzi said he thought that the Council and Mr. Cheney should realize that approximately 70% of the current patrol force has less than two years experience. This is the type of patrolmen out there very simply because there is not enough incentive here for men to stay. They will go somewhere else very simply because of salary. Mr. Cheney interrupted to say that the Statements~Mr.~ Yannuzzi was ~making were part of building the temper of negotiations. Mayor Trauger ruled that it is part of negotiations. Mayor Trauger made a comment to employees in general. If you have an application for a job, generally the salary is adequate; if you have no applications, you're salary is below. That is the general economic rule. Mr. Yannuzzi asked if Council could tell him the ~last time the Police Department was at full strength. Mayor Trauger said he wasn't referring to full strength, he said applications, because there axe many things~from the testing of the.~'criteria to keep it from being full Strength at any one particular time. Mayor Trauger stated that the moneys are provided for a full strength Police Department. Mr. Yannuzzi said, "and whether or not the people show up doesn't really matter". Mayor Trauger said, "Yes, it does; very, very definitely - but at what rate? I can eat in the Waldorf Astoria or I can eat at The Clock. That's a point of negotiations." Councilman Wright asked if the Police Department pers0~nel re- ceived,an increase like the other employees last year. Mr. Cheney said they received a negotiated increase last year as a part of the negotiating process, which was equal to 10.5% of previous salary. Everybody else received 10.5~; the~Fire,'Department received a settlement of two-year negotiating process which was two years put together. Mr. Cheney said the previous year the Police Department got 8.5~, the previous year 6.5~, and the previous five or six years 5.0~ with no discussion at all. Things have improved for all cL.ty employees. Mayor Trauger mentioned also the in- crease in the pension fund. Mr. Cheney said there is a signifi- cant amount of contributions from the City for the pension programs. Mr. Yannuzzi said he understood that the state man- dated those. Mr. Cheney said not for the retirement. Mayor Trauger thought this was negotiating and unless Mr. Yannuzzi had a question about the total amounts of money being set aside in the budget, he wished to terminate this part. Mayor Trauger read the next question before him. - 7 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 "Roll back of property tax has raised our property tax almost $300.00 as our proposed tax on real estate. I am under the impression with 5~ state tax, this property tax could not happen." /s/ Loveda Horning, 2087 S.W. 12th Avenue in Leisureville Mayor Trauger thinks this has happened to her because~of~an increase of assessed value of her property from this year over last year. He asked her if she got an increase in her assessed (appraisal) rate. She replied, "yes, I did". It must have been greater than the reduction of taxes. He ~advised that the City Council has no control or authority over the assessment; that is done by the property assessor's office. We merely set the millage rates of which goes against that assessment for the City of Boynton Beach. In that part also comes the school board and the county tax based upon that same assessment of valuation. Mayor Trauger advised Ms. Homing that the~deadline expired Thursday for an appeal to the county. She said she was aware of that; she had been to the county in West Palm Beach. The mayor said "The better the property, the greater the assess- ment.'' Mr. Cheney wanted to comment about things relative to salary and cost of living increases. He thinks it's interesting that as of now, the Town of Palm Beach finds that this year, because of what happened with the sales tax increase, is giving no cost of living adjustment this year in the .Town of Palm Beach. Mr. Cheney said, the last~he .~eard,~ the City o~ Riviera Beach is giving no cost of living increase to their employees. The other end of the extreme is the City of Boca Raton, which he believes is giving a mixture of 10 and 12~ to Police and Fire- men and 10~ to all other employees. That's because they signed a money contract last year and they are bound by it. Mr. Cheney said he wanted to point these things out to show the strange things that happen with this sales tax bill through- out the state, particularly throUghout Palm Beach County, as it affected the dollars available to do things with the coming year. It's not because people don't like employees of individual cities but because the way the thing worked out, it affected the wealthiest city of the county so they don't have a thing and yet they're caught with the roll back rate. Mr. Cheney didn't want to use this as an excuse for where we stand; he just wanted to put that on the record for the kinds of things that are happening this year as a product of what the legislature did. That's not meant to criticize the legis- lature - they ~try, but everytime you try to do something - 8 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 statewide and everytime the state decides they know what's best for 300 communities throughout the state, some are affected one way and some are affected the other way and that's a big problem we have. Mayor Trauger asked if there was anyone in the-audience who would like to speak on the budget. Burton Miller came forward and wanted a clarification on the taxes. He referred to the part where "the millage rate cannot exceed what our taxes were last year", where they did get an increase in their property assessments. He noted that his property taxes has gone up 36~, and he questioned that the millage rate has been rolled back a little bit and he is still paying higher total dollars in taxes. Mayor Trauger reiterated that it is because he is paying a higher assessment. Mr. Miller understood that they couldn't raise the taxes any higher than they paid in the previous year. Mayor Trauger said, "That's right - the tax rate" Mr. Cheney explained that what 'happens is that the county takes the total assessed value for the City of Boynton Beach for this year with this higher than the total assessed value for the property of the City of Boynton Beach last year - not new con- struction, just the same property - they take that new assessed value for this year and divide it by the income in property taxes the City got last year. So they are dividing the same amount of taxes received last year by a higher base this year and they get a lower millage. That's when they take the total (the gross). The averaqe property in.the ~city,~therefore, will pay the same dollars with a lower millage.this year. 'Theaverages are always a product of things on both sides. Some people (we don't see them at the public hearings) are paying lower taxes this year because they are on the right side of the average because their assessment didn't go up as much as some of the others. A lot of people who haven't lived in Florida for five years are picking up their share of the reallocation of tax burden which is a product of homestead exemption, and there are a lot of people in the city who aren't paying any taxes because of the $25,000 homestead exemption. Mr. Miller said it seems like people are being penalized for bringing their property up to the standards, they'.should want in Boynton Beach. When someone who buys a piece of property that is ~ot~up'i~o--'~those%'.~tahdards brings it up to those standards, there's a higher assessment slapped on them. Mr. Cheney advised that state law is a detailed system on how to appraise property. State law functions and the county appraiser's office fUnctions, and the county appraiser's office does what is it's best judgement to arrive at 100~ fair value - 9 - MINUTES -FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 of property. It's defined by state law. Ralph Sanchez, 627 N.W. 1st Avenue, Police Officer in Boynton Beach, came forward and asked the Council about the possibili- ty of getting street lights at the 600 block on N.W. 1st Ave- nue. He said, ~f you were to go to his street right now, it is pitch black and you can't find your way around without head lights; and if the houses aren't lit, you can't see house numbers. This poses a danger if they need to call the para- medics or the Police, Department. Al'so, as a police officer, Mr. Sanchez knows that if a neigh- borhood is well lit, they are less likely to be "hit" by burglars. Mayor Trauger advised that the amount of money to pay the electric bill for street lights is in the budget; the instal- lation of street lights is Florida Power and Light - to put them in. He said, from Mr. Sanchez's request, the City Manager will contact Florida Power and Light and request they survey that for adequate lighting. That's where the City stands now, but the moneys in the budget do not provide for new lights, new standards; it provides money to pay Florida Power and Light for electricity used. Mr. Cheney said anytime people ask for street lights, anytime anybody in the Police Department requests through the Chief a study of the streetlight situation, the City studies it. There is almost no time that they conclude that a street light is not needed as a. result of that study. Mr. Sanchez asked for a feedback on that when they find out something. Mr. Cheney agreed. Bob Riley, 342 S.W. 4th Avenue, came forward and asked how much of our utilities taxes are going to guarantee the golf course bond issue. Mr. Cheney replied "No'ne. We don't antici- pate any of our utility service taxes for the golf course. We simply pledged them to be available if necessary in the future which'has caused us to have a lower interest for the bond issue which has caused us to save a million dollars over a ten year period (at least).. There is no money in this budget and no current anticipated revenue pledged or set aside for the golf course. Mr. Riley said "But we have pledged the utility tax in order to sell the bonds, correct?" Mr.~ Cheney said "We have indi- cated that if in the future (if we need it), we will use them, but that's not .now." Mr. Riley asked to what amount this would come - just a rough figure. Mr. Cheney said "Zero". Councilman deLong advised that you can'.t go into the market unless you have a back-up in the bonds. Mr. Cheney said they're anticipating zero. - 10 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Mr. Riley said he is not asking how much is being put in, he's asking how much utility tax the city is getting right now - roughly. Mr. Cheney said $900,000.00. Mr. Riley asked if all this money is spent every year - if it is included. Mr. Cheney said yes, every penny ms in the General Fund Budget. Mr. Riley said if we're going to raise the garbage and raise the water and sewer, included in this, why not kick it up another 25¢ or 50¢ per household. Mayor Trauger interjected that they just brought it down. Mr. 'Riley said you brought it down from 54 to 34. Mr. Cheney interjected to say the city is not pledging utilities. He wanted to get it straight that the utilities service tax that is pledged to the golf course are the taxes the city receives from Florida Power and Light, Southern Bell, etc. When people pay their telephone and electric bills, they pay a tax and they pay a franchise. It is that tax the city is pledging. It is that tax that goes into the General Revenue - it does not go into the utility fund of our water and sewer fund. The 35~ and the 54~ is the water and sewer fund; it has nothing to do with the utility service taxes which is the tax placed on telephone, electricity, propane gas, and things of that nature. The problem with increasing the utility service tax (if we did), people are going to pay it. Mrs. Riley said if he gets. the se~vic.es he'll pay more taxes - gladly. Mr.-Riley said what he is getting to is this: Since he's · ~v~ in this~city, he thinks ther~e!s not m~re than~fi~e policemen 'that were here then when he moved in. He referred to the previous speaker s comment that "70~ of the patrol has two years service" Mr. Riley said in the northern states, until you had three years on the road, they made you ride double. Boca Raton seems to be the department that everybody wants to go to. He said evidently we are a training department here. We bring the officers in out of the school, we train them, and then they go to greener pasture. He thinks the only reason for that is salary. He said he left New Jersey to come to Florida for better salaries. He said "If we're going to keep them, we're going to have to pay them. If we can't raise our taxes, let's raise it on the utility to get the money." As Mayor Trauger understands it, the city cannot raise the utilities franchise tax without going through the public hear- ing process state wide against'that public utility. Mr. Riley said "Well let's try it. Do you want to keep the men or do you want to lose them? I don't know what it costs to train a police officer for a city. I do know that they figure three years before you know your city." He also said "While we're - 11 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 training them, they're worth about 50~ of their capabilities. So in the long run, it's going to cost more money - to keep training them and'shipping them to Boca, which I think is what's happening." Mayor Trauger does not believe the statistics really reflect this from what he has seen. They could.be leaving for a multi- tude of reasons. Mr. Riley started to discuss insurance benefits and Mayor Trauger refused to discuss this because it is a point of negotiation. Vice Mayor Warnke asked Mr. Riley what his specific question was. Mr. Riley replied "If we can't get the money from property taxes because of the roll back, let's find another way to get the money and keep the men we've got." Mayor' Trauger said with the millage set, we could cut out some other department and use that money-. Mr. Riley said "Well, we have to." Mayor Trauger said "cut out Fire? ~ cut out what?" Mr. Riley said he thought a good example of what to cut out was a machine he saw, sitting in the Public Works yard. He referred to it as "the most elaborate canteen, he's ever seen in his life" Mayor Trauger said that goes to the beaches to sell products (pop, coke), it was used the 4th of July, and used at every demonstration. In the long run, it earns it's own keep and pays for itself from the money it makes. Mr. Riley again used Boca as a comparison. Councilman deLong said one thing Mr. Riley is not taking into consideration is the amount of ad valorem taxes that goes into Boca. He noted that Boynton Beach doesn't have any ocean front property while Boca has miles of it with skyscrapers that bring them a tremendous amount of moneH in ad valorem taxes. Mr. Riley then referred to his past experience in West Broward with no water front p~operty at all. Mr. Cheney said there's no question that Broward County pays much more than cities in Palm Beach County. Councilman Wright asked how many other municipalities pay beginning patrolmen more than Boynton Beach does - besides Boca. Mayor Trauger said a study was made some time ago of comparative salaries in the Police and Fire Departments. Councilman Woolley said Bill Sullivan, the Personnel Director, has that. Mayor Trauger said the city was low, coming up now, and climbing higher. He is not arguing Mr. Riley's point. The council - 12 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 would like to pay the patrolmen as high an amount as physically possible but they are now negotiating to see what they can afford. Mr. Riley reiterated that they have to something to keep them. Mayor Trauger said "Absolutely. No argument there." As Mr. Riley sat down, there was loud applause from the audience of a large group of Policement. Mr. Cheney noted that it is interesting that the last two or three years as they've sat there and talked about salary and police problems and manning and all the other things, he doesn't remember a large number of people coming forth and saying "raise the taxes so we can raise police salaries". Councilman deLong noted that Mr. Riley will not be with theL city long. Mr. Cheney said Mr. Riley is a former policeman and he admires him for it but the balance of this ms "What is the ability of the 'rest of the city to resolve and support those kinds of statements?" Mayor Trauger asked if there was anyone else in the audience who would like to speak on any item that is in the budget. He asked if there was anyone who would like to speak in opposition to any item that is in the budget. Charles Kuss came forward and said he is not a resident of Boynton Beach but does work for the department. He said he lives in the City of Boca. He asked what the council has decided or what philosophy they are maintaining for increasing the budget - a philosophy not necessarily of raising the taxes but the philosophy over all of increasing industrial sites, of Increasing skyscrapers; also, what philosophy council is creating for the future (in the next year, the next 5 years, the next 10 years) to create a larger tax base, to create a larger sum of money in the budget so they can pay the salaries, so they can increase the sanitation, so they dig out the wells for drainage, so they can make the City of Boynton Beach another Boca Raton. Mayor Trauger said very definitely, they are bringing in the property and Motorola for the jobs and to increase the tax base. Councilman deLong said in this business, they have to take one year at a time. Mr. Kuss said a city that has the foresite of only one year scares him. Mayor Trauger said for the coming years down the line, the deBartolo Mall is coming in and raising the tax base. He advised that they've applied for annexation; it will be before - 13 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 the Council the night following this one. He noted there are two banks out on the corner; and that will practically bring in all the property from Hypoluxo Raod with'the exception of a lot clear to the end of Boynton Beach's city limits, bring- ing in a tremendous amount of tax revenue, even though those properties coming in do not add initially a great extent because there are costs involved with it. Mr. Kruss said he understood there were problems with the Police Department currently, even though they are paramount in his mind as important over all, but every year the city of Boynton Beach has problems with increased salaries for all city workers and not any great'zncreased tax base. Mayor Trauger asked Mr. Kruss if he could name any company who does not - one that has no problem with raising the wages of employees each year. Mr. Kruss could not. Mr. Kruss asked what other things the City Council is planning for the future to increase the tax base - not necessarily to maintain status quota but to go above and beyond status quo. Mayor Trauger advised that they are looking to the future development of the lines of the city in order to establish the western boundary; such things as Sunshine Square that is now being upgraded will be appraised and raise it's tax evaluation. He said if he could get the Other guys down here that had the dumps to do the same thing; we would increase the tax base a little better along that same line - the improvement of the property, making the city cleaner. He said our Codes Enforce- ment is improving which helps the city's appearance and in- creases the tax base. Councilman deLong suggested he move into the city - he'd be a good candidate. Mr. Kruss said he has every intention of mov- ing into the city; he is looking at property to build a house. Mr. Kruss advised that he has been working here for almost two years and, as a college grad, he was disappointed with the starting salary. Mr. Kruss said'he was asking the council to explain the philosophy of the future of Boynton Beach because he was hoping it would instill more faith in him to stay and not go to Boca or the Sheriff's Department or go to any other department that would pay a higher starting salary than Boynton Beach. Councilman Woolley was curious about what was keeping him here. He replied that it's because even though he's a young man and has a great long future ahead of ~him and many aspirations, he can.'t constantly turn around for greener pastures - he can't constantly say "I don't need this, I can go somewhere better." He said at some point he has to stand and fight and challenge. He said that was the whole idea of every policeman here at this meeting. - 14- MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Councilman deLong said he did not mean to be facetious when he mentioned running for council because the future of the city is going to depend upon ~he younger generation and he would like to see all the younger fellows get interested in the city government. Vice Mayor Warnke expressed h~s desire to comment about the budget and the Police Department. By accepting the one per- cent sales tax in Police termS, we are handcuffed by the Florida legislature. Mr. Cheney said one of the th "what are we doing about the the only thing that helps the growth and development, is th~ beginning of a very sophistice what kind of development costsc pays off from the point of vic from now on as a part of the ¢ every piece of land that is ar .ngs that is significant about lax base" and you tend to think future budget of the city is Lt the city is pursuing the .ted study, hopefully, as to 'and what kind of development w of ~cost~ken~fit analysis. So omprehensive plan requirements, nexed into the city and the development that's going on teat is being looked at to see what the cost benefit of that development is so we don't fall into a trap. We may not have any choice about the kind of development but we don't want to fall into a trap that assum- ing that any new development is going to solve all our budget problems, because it may not. So, they're looking for the kinds of development and the c~st of that development in addition to what kind of development it should be. Councilman deLong said that's why you have to take one year at a time. Harold Miller came forward and said he lives in the city and has been a policeman here for ~0 years. He thinks it's time the council takes the welfare ~f the policemen into concern. He has seen policemen come and~go. He thinks lack of salary and benefits is the reason. H~'s about to re%ire and he hopes the city will consider keeping'~the crop of young men they have now. He thinks if they don't ~ome up with a good salary and good benefit form, they will 1 Mayor Trauger asked Mr. Miller quite a benefit every year in Miller said they have done som reminded him that last year it he thought the National Wage R anyone else. Mr. Miller said they were give went up 12~. Mayor Trauger ag )se a bunch of good men. if the city has not provided ~he last 5 years for them. Mr. ~ hut not enough. Mayor Trauger was about 10.7 and asked what .te increase was last year of 10.7 but the cost of living eed. Mr. Miller asked Council MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 to look down the road 5 or 6 years from now, starting tonight~ to look to increase the salaries and benefits of the young men and keep them here. Mayor Trauger said he understands that. Michael Kirrman, 425 S.W. 7th Avenue, Boynton Beach, came forward and referred to items on the budget that were obtained through the chief for the use for patrolmen. He wanted to thank council for the use and offering of the equipment. He acknowledged their need for the equmpment and noted that some of the items have been on request budgets for a long time. He said'the only reason for being here was to show council that they have a group of patrolmen that care. He advised that he has been on the police force for 8 years, that he is one of the few. He said there was a large gap between him and the next one - 4 years. He wanted to keep the ones they had. He repeated that the equipment"helps them but it is benefits and pay that will keep 'the men here. Mayor Trauger asked if there were any other questions or comments to the budget'. Hearing no other, MAYOR TRAUGER CLOSED THIS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING Councilman Wright referred to Chris Yannuzzi's question about how the remainder of the million the city will be getting in sales tax will be spent and Mr. Cheney's answers that some of the- salaries for sure may be included in some of the $600,000 and that about 70% of the other department budgets are for salaries just for city employees generally. Councilman Wright said mn addition, there's 22 new positions of which he believes ~are/in the Police Department. He thinks there was one officer for the K-9 unit and two officers for the Vice Squad and two Police Aides. He said additionally, more money was placed in drainage. It seemed to him more money is being placed in road improvements and street resurfacing. With the few new parks they expect to have open shortly, he said it's going to create some problems if they don't have additional personnel for them. Regarding additional equipment, he said it seems they have to replace vehicles every 2 years, expecially those used by the POlice Department. Regarding the Library, there are a lot of books still, and there are a few word processors that have been asked for by two departments. Some of the money was put in reserve for revenue sharing that could not be used for salaries. Councilman Wright thinks totally $555,000 has been placed in the budget for increases. He said he understands the dilemma and the problems everyone is confronted with. While he~s been - 16- MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Councilman, he has been concerned about working people and he thinks council acted favorably last year in trying to give 10.5~ increase to most employees. Councilman Wright agreed with the speaker about looking further than one year and he thinks they have in terms of trying to make improvement. He just thinks they can't do everything at one t'ime. He said he does think they should do another comparability study to see how Boynton Beach patrolmen follow those in the county. Since we're the 3rd largest municipality, we need to make sure the salaries are more in line based on our increase. Things don't change over- night, and he doesn't think anyone will ever be totally pleased with salaries but he thinks there may be some things they can do in the years ahead to make them feel a little bit better. LEGAL Resolutions (1) ProPosed Resotuti~ion No. 82-NNN Attorney Vance read Resolution 82-NNN in its entirety: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, STA~ING THE AGGREGATE MILTAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED AGAINST PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE CITY FOR THE 1982-1983 FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHAI,I, HAVE THE AIfIIqORITY TO ADJUST THE AGGREC~tTE MILLAGE RATE UPON RECEIPT OF THE FINAL TAX ROLL; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHEREAS, Florida Statutes Section 200.065(2)(d) rec~ires that prior to the adoption of the final budget that a resolution stating the aggregate millage rate proposed by the municipality be passed; and WHEREAS, said .resolution mst also state the per cent of increase in property taxes adopted by the governing body; and WHEREAS, said aggregate millage rate must be adopted separately and before the budget of the comunity; and WHEREAS, the City. of Boynton Beach, Florida, has followed the procedures as outlined in Florida Statutes Section 200.065; and WHEREAS, Florida Statutes Section 200.065(5) provides for a mini- sterial adjustment of the aggregatemillage rate after receipt of the final tax roll. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA: MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Section 1. That the City Council of the City ofBoynton Beach, Florida, hereby adopts 5%1822 mills as the official millage rate of the City for the 1982-1983 fiscal year. Section 2. That in accordance with Florida Statutes Section 200.065, the City Council of the City of Boynton Beach, Florida, hereby states that said millage does not exceed the rolled back rate as defined by Florida Statutes Section 200.065. Section 3. That upon receipt of the final tax roll if said roll indicates that the certified taxable Value within the district is at a variance bymorethan3% from the original tax roll pre- sented to the City by the property appraiser's office, that the City Manager shall within three (3) days make the ministerial adjustment to the aggregate millage rate to assure that the same amount of taxes shall be collectedby the City. Said adjustment shall be reported to the property appraiser within three (3) days of receipt of the final tax roll. Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage. Counc'il~an'ideL6ng moved the adoption of 'proposed Resolution No. 82-NNN. Councilmember Woolley seconded and Mrs. Boroni took a roll call vote as follows: Councilman deLong Aye Mayor Trauger Aye Vice Mayor Warnke Aye Councilmgmber Woolley Aye Councilman Wright Aye The vote was 5-0. (2) Proposed Resolution No. 82-000 Attorney read Proposed Resolution No. 82-000 by title only: A RESOLUTION OF THE. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTO~R 1, 1982 AND ENDING SEPTemBER 30, 1983; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECT/VE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Councilman deLong moved the adoption of Proposed Resolution No. 82-000. Councilmember Woolley seconded. Mr. Cheney asked Attorney Vance if he wanted to read the numbers into the record. Attorney Vance advised that he had the written numbers prepared by the Director of Finance but for the benefit of Council, he would make absolutely sure_ and.~_.~hey, are in the.original resolution. - 18 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 Attorney Vance reported that the blanks in Resolution 82-000 are as follows: Section 2, $12,322,450.00 Section 3, $5,288,599.00 Section 4, $902,661.00 in the first blank, $1,518,740.00 in the second blank, and $2,421,401.00 in the third blank Section 5, $49,050.00 Section 6, $234,735.00 Section 7, $70,000.00 Section 8, $552,984.00 Because they had people in the audience-who di'dn't know what those figures are, Mr. Cheney advised: (he rounded off the figures) The $12,000,000 is the General Fund (that's been referred to earlier at this meeting) The $5,200,000 is appropriated to the Water and Sewer Utility Fund The $900,000 is for interest payments in the Utility Fund The $1,500,000 is for depreciation of reserve for~Utility Fund The $2,400,000 is a total for the Utility Fund The $49,000 is for the Publicity and Advertising Fund The $234,000 is for the Sanitation Capital Replacement Fund (that's money that comes from the sanitation fees) The $70,000 is set aside for the Fire Department Vehicle Replacement Fund The $552,000 is the amount relative to General Revenue Sharing Mrs. Boroni took a roll call vote as follows: Mayor Trauger Aye Vice Mayor Warnke Aye Councilmembe~ Woolley Aye Councilman Wright Aye Councilman deLong Aye The vote was 5-0. At this time Councilman deLong moved to adjourn. Seconded by Vice Mayor War~ke, the meeting was properly adjourned at 8:51 P.M. - 19 - MINUTES - FINAL BUDGET HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ATTEST: City Clerk Re'co~ding S~cretary (Two tape s ) SEPTEMBER 20, 1982 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ouncilmem~/~ - 20-