Sea  HONDANHL-HLS Town Council Public Hearing on Tentative Budget and Proposed Millage Rate September 04, 2024 at 5:05 PM Howey-in the-Hills Town Hall 101 N. Palm Ave., Howey-in-the-Hills, FL: 34737  MINUTES  Mayor MacFarlane called the Town Council Public Hearing on Tentative Budget and Proposed Millage Rate to  order at 5:05 p.m. ROLLCALL Acknowledgement of Quorum MEMBERS PRESENT: Gallelli Mayor Martha MacFarlane STAFF PRESENT:  Mayor MacFarlane led the attendees ini thel Pledge of Allegiance tot thel Flag.  Councilor Reneé Lannaman delivered an invocation.  Councilor Reneé Lannaman Councilor David Miles I Councilor George Lehning Mayor Pro Tem Marie V.  Sean O'Keefe, Town Manager Morgan Cates, Public Works Director] Rick Thomas, Police Chiefl Tara Hall,  Library Director John Brock, Town Clerk  Confirmation of Meeting Notification and acknowledgement of Quorum was completed.  PUBLICI HEARING  1. Consideration and Approval: Resolution 2024-007- - Tentative Millage. Rate  Mayor MacFarlane read Ordinance 2024-007 out loud by title only and the following statements: RESOLUTIONNO.2024-007, Al RESOLUTION OF THE' TOWN COUNCIL OFTHETOWNG OF HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FLORIDA; ADOPTING A TENTATIVE MIILLAGE RATE OF 7.50 FOR THE TOWN OF HOWEYIN-TIEHILIS LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR AD VALOREM TAXES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025; PROVIDING FOR ANI EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Taxing Authority is the Town ofHowey-in-the-Hlls. Thel Rolled-Back Rate is 6.9645 mills.  1/Page    The percentage over thel Rolled-Back Rate is 7.69%, which is the percentage increase in  property taxes.  Thej proposed Millage Rate to be levied is 7.500. Mayor MacFarlane opened Public Comment for this item only. There were no public comments or questions. Mayor MacFarlane closed Public Comment for this item.  Mayor MacFarlane opened Councilor Comment and Questions for this issue only.  Councilor Miles asked the' Town Manager, Sean O'Keefe, what it would cost the Town ifit would lower the millage rate by 0.05 or by 0.10. Mr. O'Keefe stated that it would cost the' Town $10,677 to lower the millage ratel by 0.05 and it would cost the' Town $21,354 ifit wanted to lower the millage rate Mayor MacFarlane stated that, with all ongoing projects and costs that the Town was incurring, she thought the millage rate should stay at 7.50 and that the Town should look at lowering it next year if Motion made by Councilor Miles to approve Resolution 2024-007, but to change the millage rate  by 0.10.  possible. Mayor Pro Tem Gallelli stated that she agreed with the mayor. from 7.50 to 7.45. There was no second for this motion.  Motion made by Councilor. Lannaman to approve. Resolution 2024-007, Al RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HOWEY-IN-THE-IIS. FLORIDA; ADOPTING A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE OF 7.50 FOR' THETOWN OF HOWEY-IN- THE-HILLS, LAKE COUNTY,FLORIDA FOR. AD VALOREM TAXES FORI FISCAL YEAR 2025; PROVIDING FOR. AN EFFECTIVE DATE; seconded by Mayor Pro. Tem Gallelli. Motion  was approved by a roll call vote.  Voting Nay: Councilor Miles millage rate by a small amount.  Yea: Councilor) Lannaman, Councilor Lehning, Mayor Pro Tem Gallelli, Mayor MacFarlane Councilor Miles stated that this was the second year in arow that he has tried to lower the Town's Mayor MacFarlane stated that there were projects, such as the $50,000 spent on Peak Park, that haye raised the cost to the' Town and that, because ofthis, it was not the time to lower the Town's millage rate. Councilor Lannamaf stated that she would support al lowering of the millage rate to the roll-back Councilor Miles stated that he was not suggesting the Town go tot the roll-back rate, but he did think that the Town priorities on spending were not focused correctly. The Town should not have spent $500,000 on the Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve Boardwalk project but should have spent that money on  rate ifthe Town Council was able to watch its spending through the year.  roads and water lines.  2. Consideration and Approval: Résolution 2024-008- Tentative Budget  Mayor MacFarlane read Ordinance 2024-007 out loud by title only and the following statements:  2Page    RESOLUTIONI NO.2024-008, A RESOLUTION OF THETOWN COUNCIL OFTHET TOWNOF HOWEYIN-THE-IIS, FLORIDA; ADOPTING A' TENTATIVE BUDGETFORTHE TOWN OF HOWEY-IN-TIE-HIIS, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND  PROVIDING ANJ EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Tentative. Budget for the Town ofH Howey-in-the-Hills for Fiscal Year 2025 to be adopted  by Fund Department is as follows:  General Fund in the amount of $3,326,777. Infrastructure fund in the amount of $266,578. Enterprise fund in the amount of $6,812,737. Police Pension Fundi in the amount of$198,423. Police. Advanced Training Fund int the amount of$1,500. Water Impact Feel Fund in the amount of$15,750. Parks & Rec Impact Feel Fund in the amount of $257,100. Police Impact Fee Fund in the amount of $5,000. Road Impact Fee Fund in the amount of$1. Wastewater Impact Fee Fund int the amount of $1. Stormwater Impact Feel Fund in the amount of $1. Building Services in the amount of $106,500. Tree Fund in the amount of$1,000. Total all Funds $10,991,368.  Mayor MacFarlane opened Public Comment for this item only. There were no public comments or questions. Mayor MacFarlane çlosed Public Comment for this item.  Mayor MacFarlane opened Councilor Comment and Questions for this issue only.  Mayor Pro Tem Gallelli stated that she thought the following sentence in the resolution, "The' Town Manager may advise the" Town Council of possible excess revenues, or deductions in revenues, which may allow for additional appropriations, or require the reduction of appropriations, during the fiscal Councilor Lannaman was concerned about budget transfers and stated that she would like more communication. Mr. O'Keefe stated that all budget transfers are communicated through emails to the Town Councilors, andi they have 10 days to respond and say that they would like the budget transfer to come before the Council and, ifso, it becomes an item of business at the Council's next meeting. Motion made by Mayor Pro' Tem Gallelli to approve Resolution 2024-008, A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HOWEY-IN-THE-IIS, FLORIDA; ADOPTING. A TENTATIVE, BUDGET FORT THE' TOWN OF HOWEY-N-THEHIIS, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR FISCAL YEAR: 2025. AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, while changing the word "may" for "shall" in the sentence "The' Town Manager may advise the Town Council of possible excess revenues, or deductions in revenues, which may allow for additional appropriations, or require the reduction ofappropriations, during the fiscal year"; seconded by Councilor Lannaman. Motion approved unanimously by roll call vote. Yea: Councilor Lannamafi, Councilor Miles, Councilor Lehning, Mayor Pro Tem Gallelli, Mayor  year," the word "may" should be changed to "shall".  Voting MacFarlane Nay: None  3Page    PUBLIC COMMENTS  Any person wishing to address the Mayor and Town Council and who is not on the agenda is asked tos speak their  name and address. Three (3) minutes is allocated per speaker.  None ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Councilor Miles to adjourn the meeting; Councilor Lannaman seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.  The Meeting adjourned at 5:36 p.m. Attendees: 16  - afhplack Fefis Mayor Martha/MacFarlane  ATTEST:  John Brock, Town Clerk RAL  POR  4IPage