OFASTA  TOWN OF ASTATULA MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES  PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARING THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2021  TOWN HALL  SINCE  1872  Having been duly advertised as required by law, Mayor Mitchell Mack called the Preliminary Budget Hearing to order at 7:00pm. He led a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Members Present: Mitchell Mack, Mayor Kimberly Kobera, Vice-Mayor Stephen Cross Orita Issartel Absent: Gayle Sikkema  Also Present: Graham Wells, Town Clerk Walter Hoagland, Police Chief  Roll Call was performed, and it was determined that a quorum was present.  This public hearing is for the purpose of announcing the percentage by which the millage rate differs from the rolled-back rate; and for Council to adopt a tentative millage rate by Resolution. Council will also adopt the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22 by fund RESOLUTION 2021-15 - DETERMINING THE AMOUNT AND FIXING THE RATE OE A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA, DETERMINING THE AMOUNT AND FIXING THE RATE OF AD VALOREM TAXATION; LEVYING THE ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 FOR THE TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mayor Mack read the resolution title and announced the following information as required  department.  ADVALOREM TAXATION  by Florida Statutes:  The Taxing Authority is the Town of Astatula The Rolled-Back Rate is 7.1113 mills The Percentage over the Rolled-Back Rate is 5.47 percent The Millage Rate to be Levied is 7.5000 mills  At this point the Mayor opened the meeting for public comment on this issue only; there  being no residents present he closed public comment.  Town of Astatula Preliminary Budget Hearing Minutes  September 16, 2021 Page1of3    Itwas then opened for Council discussion. There being no questions, the Mayor called fora MOTION by Councilwoman Issartel to approval Resolution 2021-15; SECONDED by  motion to approve Resolution 2021-15.  Councilwoman Kobera Aroll call vote was requested Councilman Cross- Councilwoman Kobera- YES Councilwoman Issartel- YES Mayor Mack- MOTION CARRIED 4-0  YES YES  RESOLUTION 2021-16 - ADOPTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR' THE' TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA, FOR' THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2021, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, AND Mayor Mack read the resolution title and announced the following information as required The Tentative Budget for the' Town ofA Astatulai for Fiscal Year 2021-221 to be: adopted byl Fund  BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2021,AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022  ESTABLISHING ANI EFFECTIVE DATE.  by Florida Statutes:  Department is as follows:  General Fund - In the amount tof$1,377,756.00 Transportation Fund - In the amount of $77,430.00 Infrastructure Fund - In the amountofs190,00000 Enterprise (Utility) Fund - Int the amount of$179,270.00 TOTALI ALL FUNDS- -$ $1,824,456.00  At this point the Mayor opened the meeting for public comment on this issue only; there It was then opened for Council discussion. Councilman Cross asked several questions. Explanation of the! 54% increase int the Executive Budget (512)- - Clerk Wells responded that approximately $32,000 was for a new staff member for town hall, the increase: in the clerk's salary and the corresponding amount of FICA and FRS, plus an increase in health insurance. The premium for Insurance had increased by $12,000 due to new vehicles and equipment Mr. Wells further confirmed that the majority of the increase in expenditure for the police department was due to the cost of an additional officer, promotion of an officer to full time and salaryincreases with the corresponding FICA, FRS and an increase: in health insurance.  being no residents present he closed public comment.  and $56,000 was included to install a generator set for town hall.  Town of Astatula Preliminary Budget Hearing Minutes  September 16, 2021 Page2of3    Councilman Cross asked why the Infrastructure fund showed an increase of 52% and why revenues were: $190,000 and expenditures only $176,426. Clerk Wells responded thati in the last fiscal year the budget was significantly reduced as we did not know the effect that COVID-19 would have on the state revenues. $130,000 of the 2021-22 budget is for repayment of the loan for the new community building and that the $13,574 difference between revenues and expenses was a carry forward ofunappropriated funds. Mr. Cross asked for an explanation for the 23.5% increase in the total expenditure. Clerk Wells responded that in addition to the reasons already mentioned in these minutes, that there was no budget for the Enterprise fund last year and therefore, the entire budget for 2021-22 represented an increase. He added that the total increase in the budget against the There being no further discussion, Mayor Mack requested a motion to approve Resolution 2021-16: adopting the budget thati included the salary increases as proposed. MOTION by Councilman Cross to approve Resolution 2021-16; SECONDED by  amended 2020-21 budget was 12.7 percent.  Councilwoman Issartel Ar roll call vote was requested Councilman Cross- Councilwoman Kobera- YES Councilwoman Issartel- YES Mayor Mack- MOTION CARRIED 4-0 7:00pm at' Town Hall. ADIOURNMENT  YES YES  The Mayor announced that the final budget hearing would be on September 29, 2021 at  There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 pm.  Respectfully submitted,  Mitchell Mack, Mayor ATTEST: A  Town Clerk & Finance Officer  Town of Astatula Preliminary Budget Hearing Minutes  September 16, 2021 Page 3of3