OFASTA  TOWN OF ASTATULA MAYOR AND COUNCIL SUMMARY MINUTES  BUDGET WORKSHOP THURSDAY, JULY25, 2023 2023-2024 BUDGET  SINCI  Having been duly advertised as required by law, Mayor Mitchell Mack called the workshop to  order at 5.40 pm. Mayor Mack led' The Pledge of Allegiance.  Members Present: Mitchell Mack, Mayor Stephen Cross, Vice-Mayor Gayle Sikkema Orita Issartel Zane' Teeters  Also Present: Graham Wells, Town Clerk Wally Hoagland, Police Chief  Roll call wast taken and there was one resident present.  The council members present had been sent the proposed budget for the General Fund prior to the meeting: and the Clerk proceeded to go over the first draft. The clerk stated that thel budget was fluid and: subject to change as new data comes in particularly with revenues from the state. He reminded Council that Ad Valorem taxes were in tablets of stone as they are provided by the department of revenue from the TRIM. The revenue in the budget is based on 95% of the projected revenue. from the property appraiser and the Solid Waste revenue is based on the number ofl homes multiplied by the rate per home to cover the cost from GFL Environmental. The budget is based on The Clerk stated that the version they were looking at mirrored the finance reports that they were used to seeing. He referred them to page two which showed a projected surplus of $200,460.00 but emphasized that the impact fees on line 1 of page 1 were. restricted funds sO the actual working spendable surplus is reduced by $46,839.00. He said that there would likely be commercial impact fees from development at County Materials, but the amount is not known at this time. He added that he would go over the expenditures for each department but emphasized that there wasi noj provision in thel budget for salaryi increases which would have to be talked about.. Aj potential increase in the Council stipends was raised and discussed and the consensus was to keep them as There was an amount in the budget to replace the administrative assistant with someone more qualified to take some of the burden on the financial side of the clerk's job. Opinions on the type of person, full time/part time and the salary were discussed. The Mayor stated that the person would still have to perform the existing duties of the administrative assistant. This position was discussed extensively. Councilman Teeters said that the clerk should have: sole discretion on who hel hires and how much they should be paid without having to come to council for approval. The Mayor gave a historical perspective on how the control ofe employees and their remuneration has rested with the  the current millage rate of7.5000 mills.  they are. Thei insurance premium from FMIT was thel best estimate.  council.  Town ofA Astatula Budget Workshop Minutes July 25,2023 Page1of2    As significant hourly wages fort this new position were being suggested, the Chiefs said that before the townl looks at bringing in new people at! higher stating rates ofp pay, the council should look to reward the current employees who have remained loyal to the town, through the difficult and hard time Mr. Cross said thati ity wasa al balanceand: suggested that the position be budgeted asaf full-time position at $25.00 per hour. The clerk responded that full time increases the cost of benefitsa and believed that thirty-two hours should be sufficient to carry out the duties when town hall was open. Additional hours could be budgeted as with Tracy who is working from 8am to 5pm giving her thirty-six hours. He put an idea forward that was being considered at Leesburg where an increase in wages and salaries was based on the CPI which is around 4.6% plus an additional 1% for each year of employment capped at fivey years. This would give Tracy 6%, Natalie 7% and Tisdell 8% and everyone He added that Wally was the lowest paid Police Chief fin the County, and the clerk did not even make the average of clerk's: salaries, who do not have the level of responsibilities that he does. Councilman Teeters said that the chiefand the clerk were handcuffed in running their departments and whoand at what rate they can pay their employees. They should be given an overall budget and the latitude As the two-hour mark had been reached, the rules oforder required that the council vote to extend the meeting. Councilwoman Sikkema said that we were not solving anything and made a motion to It was agreed to havea a second workshop and to meet again on Wednesday 2nd of August at 5:30 pm.  when the town could not afford payi increases at all.  else would get 10% as a reward for their loyalty.  to pay what is necessary to maintain the proper level and quality of staff.  adjourn, which was seconded by Vice-Mayor Cross.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 pm. Respectulysubmited,  Mitchell Mack, Mayor Zhe  Clerk  :  Town of Astatula Budget Workshop Minutes July 25,2023 Page2of2    :  i    : 81.    3e1.  . : 1M 11s    .. *  iv  .  :  13  :.  :  -   a