CITY OF LABELLE SEPTEMBER 12, 2023  TENTATIVE MILLAGE/BUDGET HEARING  Mayor Wilkins called the budget hearing for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the City ofL LaBelle to order at 5:30 p.m. Commissioner Vargas provided thei invocation. Commissioner Spratt led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call was taken. Members present were Commissioner Hugo Vargas, Commissioner Bobbie Spratt, Finance Director Gracie Morton presented proposed budget options. She noted that the presented budgets included the necessary funds to match the County in order to provide two additional full-time firefighters. She asked for direction on the COLA percentage, Barron Library funds, the funds to provide designated deputies for City limits, as well as a part-time IT staffmember. She noted that in order to accommodate the deputies, the millage would need to be increased and funds would need to be taken from the Capital Commissioner Spratt made a suggestion to give a one-dollar raiset to all employees at a 5.0r millage and use the potential surplus funds toj provide a $300 bonus to employees at Christmas. There was then discussion on what the current Christmas incentive was for employees. Lisa Awbrey clarified that the employees There was discussion on the percentage of COLA: raise to give the employees and the possible increases in Mayor Wilkins expressed the need for a grant writer on staff to pursue grant opportunities. She mentioned the possibility of using the interlocal with the County to utilize their grant writer's services. Discussion continued on the option of using the County'sg grant writer, and the need for an IT person. Commissioner Akin recommended setting the tentative millage at 5.25.  Mayor Julie Wilkins, Commissioner. Jackie Ratica, and Commissioner. Daniel Akin.  Improvement Funds line item.  received two $50 gift cards.  millage.  There was further discussion on the need for a grant writer and how they would bej paid.  Mayor Wilkins took up conversation on if the Sheriff's deputies were to be included in the budget, and where the funds would be taken from. There was discussion on how much money was available as reserve funds. There was debate on the current level of service the deputies were currently providing and Mayor Wilkins opened the meeting to public comment. Rich Harper addressed the Commission to inquire about the budget process and the reasons for the proposed increase in millage. Mr. Harper expressed his Mayor Wilkins explained how the proposed millage was determined. There was further discussion on how Mr. Harper asked the Commission what time oft the week and day the deputies would be oft the most use. The Commission explained that the main goal of funding the two city limit deputies was to slow traffic.  conversation about the need for enforcement of the speed limit through town.  interest in receiving more information.  tof fund the deputies.  1    Hendry County Commissioner. Mitchell Wills clarified that the County had approved 15 deputies to ensure better coverage of the entire County and encouraged the City to fund the city-designated deputies.  Discussion continued on the best use oft the deputies.  Commissioner. Akin motioned to adopt ai tentative 5.25 millage rate. There was further discussion on how toj fundi the two city-designated Afterfurther discussion, Commissioner Akin withdrew his motion.  Commissioner Spratt seconded. the motion.  Sheriff's Deputies.  Commissioner Spratt motioned to provide a dollar raise for all employees and use the potential surplus  funds for a one-time employee Christmas bonus. Commissioner Ratica seconded. the motion. Afterfurther discussion, the motion, failed. 2-3. Commissioners Spratt and Ratica were inj favor.  Mayor Wilkins, Commissioner Vargas, and Commissioner Akin were. not inj favor.  There was further discussion on Christmas bonuses for the employees.  Commissioner. Akin made a motion for a. 3 percent COLA raise. Commissioner Vargas seconded the motion. After) further discussion, the motion. failed 2-3. Commissioners. Akin and Vargas were inj favor.  Mayor Wilkins, Commissioners Ratica, and. Spratt were not inj favor.  Commissioner Ratica expressed her desire to take care of the employees.  Commissioner Ratica motioned to issue the SI dollar raise with a $300 bonus at Christmas.  Commissioner Spratt seconded the motion. Afterfurther discussion, the motion failed 2-3. Commissioners Spratt and Ratica were inj favor.  Mayor Wilkins, Commissioner Vargas, and Commissioner. Akin were not inj favor.  Mitchell Wills, City of! LaBelle Maintenance Supervisor expressed his desire to see the employees taken care of. He suggested giving a one-dollar raise and keeping the bonus. He also suggested that the Commission call thè Sheriff to request additional enforcement to monitor the speeding through town. There was further discussion on providing raises to the employees, and the speeding through town. Commissioner Spratt suggested using the potential surplus funds to help fund the deputies rather than for  the employee bonuses.  Commissioner Spratt motioned to issue a dollar raise to all employees.  Commissioner Ratica seconded the motion. The motion carried. 5-0.  2    Commissioner Ratica motioned for a tentative millage rate of5 5.25. Commissioner Akin clarified that this would include the two deputies. Mayor Wilkins stated the rollback rate was. 3.9007, percent. She stated that the increase was to meet the budgetary requirements. Commissioner Spratt motioned to adopt the tentative Bugeto/$7,167,65200  Commissioner Vargas seconded the motion.  The motion carried. 5-0.  Commissioner Vargas seconded the motion. The motion carried. 5-0. Commissioner Spratt motioned to adjourn. Commissioner. Ratica seconded. the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.  APPROVED:  d9ha  Commissioner Daniel Akin, Vice-Mayor  ATTEST:  wofpboty JeksiZubaty, Députy CityCleyk  3