MARCO ISLAND — The Budget Sub-Committee of the Marco Island City Council deals with many numbers, but of all of the figures, two stand out. One is the total proposed budget for the city for the upcoming fiscal year, and the other, which flows from the first one, is the millage rate city taxpayers will have to ante up to fund the budget. That's what the process is all about – what the city spends, and what it will cost you.
Monday and Tuesday, the three city councilors on the budget sub-committee were hard at it, taking wish lists from each city department, and deciding whether, in their judgment, and therefore the report they will deliver to the full City Council, each of the requests is justified and necessary.
A succession of department heads, from Police Chief Don Hunter to Public Works Director Tim Pinter, presented their proposals to the councilors. After each department made its case item by item, the sub-committee members, Chairman Joe Batte, Frank Recker and Jerry Gibson, went back and voted yes or no.
The Fire Department requested, among other items, three new vehicles and a fire-rescue boat. Information Technology asked for $150,000 in upgrades to equipment in the city's community room, where the budget meeting was held, to better present information and transmit it to the island's citizens.
"The more visible you make city hall, the better off we are," said Recker, with meetings of committees and advisory boards, as well as the council, available to watch.
"Let the people see how city government works," said Gibson. "People think everything starts with City Council."
With Community Development Director Bryan Milk home recuperating from surgery, and watching the proceedings on television, Recreation Supervisor Alex Galiano presented the Parks and Recreation proposed items. These included lighting for parks, athletic fields and special events, and $65,000 for renovations to the playing fields at Mackle Park. Replacing the Community Center there, at a cost of $3.4 million, said Batte, needs to be put to the entire council for guidance.
Police requests included $28,800 for replacement laptop computers, and $30,000 for new patrol boat outboard engines. Ironically, one large request, for $120,000 to replace the emergency VHF radio system, means leaving a system that works fine, but no longer complies with FCC requirements, said Assistant Chief Dave Baer.
Many of the big ticket items fall under public works, presented by director Tim Pinter. The committee members voted no on $8 million to construct a new Smokehouse Bay Bridge this fiscal year, although City Manager Jim Riviere added his pitch.
"Stand on the Esplanade side, and feel the vibrations as trucks go over," he urged the councilors.
They said yes to $400,000 for street resurfacing, to drainage projects that are 50 percent reimbursed by a grant from the South Florida Water Management District, and to $121,000 for equipment including a $60,000 lawn mower.
Eventually, the Budget Sub-Committee looked at the big picture. Acting Finance Director Robert Lang took them through the numbers.
From the current millage rate of 1.9592, the overall two percent reduction in assessed property values means the city must charge a slightly higher rate to generate the same tax dollars as last year. This "roll back rate" would be 2.0076, just over two tenths of a percent for every dollar of assessed property. If the budget were increased by the maximum allowed by the spending cap, the rate would go to 2.2725.
The intent, said Lang, is to make the budget "taxpayer neutral," with the average tax bite the same as last year, although "some people's tax bills would go up slightly and some down," he said. The final word goes to the full Marco Island City Council, which meets on Monday.
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Comments » 19
NobodysFool57 writes:
Here we go again. Property values decline, so Council raises tax rates to make up the revenue. More people get fed-up and leave, and property values fall futher. In their infinite wisdom, Council raises taxes again, and so it goes. We've been playing this game for the last five years. Last year, Collier County and the City of Naples held the line on taxes and guess what? Their property values increased this year. Think the numbskulls in City Hall will learn? I doubt it. This November, I think we need some fresh faces on Council, vote the incumbents OUT. Show the whole lot of them who really calls the shots around here. I sincerely hope you agree.
seasonala writes:
The leadership in this city is a disappointment. Citizens have an opportunity to work toward changing the direction of our island. Citizens please educate yourselves about incumbents and candidates. And vote!
KlausStoertebeker writes:
I will not say numbskulls. But both comments are right and I am consenting.
OldMarcoMan writes:
The last Councilor to propose rolling taxes back was Forcht and they could not wait to get him out.
ajm3s writes:
ITS PERSONAL
As homeowners deal with financial issues by assessing their personal revenue stream, given the current state, national and global economic conditions, why does Marco Island continue on this path to maintain a purported "taxpayer neutral" position? Is this the goal of budgetary review?
I do not believe this city and representatives can distinguish a need from a want. Evidence: Ask the city what is the cost to operate and maintain essential services on this island. I suspect the response would include the phrase, "it depends on how you define essential".
Keep in mind, most departments will make the announcement that safety and lives are at stake along with with the obligatory, "its for the kids" or "its for the retirees", or "its for the parents", or "its for the enhancement of our community", "or for the gifted", for the specific benefit of one at the expense of the many.
Remember, there was a proposal for a community center with a teaching kitchen to address the "needs" of whom at the expense of .......
When will we truly understand the role of government? Its NOT to meet every citizens individual "needs" but to provide COMMON and basic services for citizens. Imagine, the city simply wants to maintain taxpayer neutrality. This is quite a goal, only understandable if the perspective is to protect the budget.
Qualitatively, its about what we spend money on, and again, I believe we spend too much time, effort and money on defining the "needs" of the numerator and little on "needs" of the denominator. Sorry for the fraction metaphor, but in the end it is about numbers.
Which leads me to say, if one cannot personally manage their own finances I strongly recommend they should NOT seek elective office. Why? The bulk of council decisions require a keen sense of fiscal issues, and if one cannot go home to deal with personal fiscal issues in a prudent manner, why should I assume you can as a representative.
Would you hire a financial planner to manage your retirement funds if he declared bankruptcy, irregardless of his personal circumstance? Then, why would you elect a representative to deal with city decisions that impact citizens.
So to return to my theme, its always personal, so I will NOT vote for those who cannot reduce spending given this financial climate. In the end, I like money in the citizens hands to make improvements to their personal property, NOT yours as a representative dealing with our collective taxes and defining "needs".
Note: Needs and wants are yet to be defined by this city.
RayPray writes:
How many of these super-Solons have already rollicked in personal backruptcy?
26yearsonmarco writes:
“Police requests included $28,800 for replacement laptop computers and $30,000 for new patrol boat outboard engines”.
A few years ago an individual who worked at the marina where our “Naval Fleet” is stored told me the new boat engines are replaced every year, because if they do not replace them, this item would be removed from future budgets, and I’m sure the laptop computers and many other items are handled the same way.
It is time to revise the budget system, and place items like boat engines, etc. in a reserve based on the useful life of the item, and not simply replace them every year.
I am also curious about who benefits from the so-call used engines, and other almost new equipment.
Now, if you think we have problems with our “Group of Seven” running our City, here is an example of our “Group of 535” who are running our Country. I don’t know about you, but this scares the “you know what” out of me:
http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in...
26yearsonmarco writes:
Two more stories to ponder:
1. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ameri...
2. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow...
marco97 writes:
If Waldack and Gibson get reelected there is no hope for this Island. How can people who can't manage their own finances be expected to manage ours? Lets elect some people who want to hold the line on spending and possibly cut our taxes.
marco826 writes:
"Stand on the Esplanade side, and feel the vibrations as trucks go over,"
Are you kidding me? Fire this man immediately....
porschett writes:
Dis-band the city, get rid of the keystone cops and fire department, and go back under Collier County! Wait, we can't have that. Then we'd have a Naples address!
blogsmog writes:
Hey Marco homeowner time for your annual colonoscopy.
marcofriend writes:
If you think it is only those two you need to look closer as there is a 3rd incumbant running whos personal finances are in no better shape. Check at collierclerk.com and see for yourself with the foreclosure status of our elected officials who can vote tax increases for us.
marco97 writes:
I forgot to mention Mr. Recker who also has serous financial problems. Only on Marco.
ajm3s writes:
Looking at the current field vying for the 4 council seats, there are only two candidates that I could comfortably endorse. Now the street noise is that Mr. Magel is creating and quietly promoting a coalition to assure the passage of a community center expansion irregardless of vocal opposition. Mr. Magel has a vision that encourages providing more government services and subsidies because he knows there are a lot of folks who fall for the line: "its only a few dollars per week".
To that I say, its a few dollars wasted. A better alternative, would be to burn this legal tender as incense offerings accompanied with a Marco Island kabuki. At the very least, there would be entertainment value.
I would not encourage giving a dollar a week in the form of a tax to subsidize a private company that is currently collecting a fee for a service currently you pay through premiums paid to your insurance provider and along with a copay or deductible.
How many ways can the city and private industry "nickle and dime" you? The answer, as many ways citizens and customers are willing to accept the slogan, "its only a dollar a week".
Quite an innocuous slogan.
So I guess to those who like to evaluate cost on a weekly basis:
8hr after hours care......$1/wk
Veterans Park Purchase... $2/wk
Community Center......... $1/wk
and we could go on with this list to include EMT services by the county, the cost of accompanying services by Fire and Rescue, Police etc.
Folks, when the government starts convincing you that subsidizing a private entity is a good thing is the day we relinquish the benefits of sound management and efficient allocation of capital.
Where is Milton Friedman when you need him in this climate with council leaders promoting "public private partnerships" in all its distorted applications.
I get concerned when smart folks fall victim to these slogans. Some elected representatives know how to use these slogans to promote and market whatever project they deem for the "benefit" of the citizens.
NEWS FLASH: We already have the benefit of 24 hr emergency care --- 911 and a trip to an emergency facility. Depending on the nature of the emergency it may be a trip to Physicians Regional by ambulance or Naples or Ft. Myers by helicopter to Lee Memorial depending on seriousness of injury or ailment.
http://www.leememorial.org/trauma/abo...
Or do the folks simply need smelling salts?
ajm3s writes:
Sorry, folks I strayed from the theme. This comment should have been placed with the 24 care center article.
I need coffee NOW
NobodysFool57 writes:
News Flash! Bonita Springs just announced they'll be holding the line on taxes this year. I guess their property values will rise next year. Are you listening Marco City Council? Probably not.
Seawaller writes:
Just a dollar down and a dollar a week, you can get everything you seek for just a dollar down and a dollar a week. Then they paved paradise and put up a parking lot, with a pink hotel, a boutique and a swinging hot spot. Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Council keeps telling me what I need. What I really need is for them to stop telling me what I need.
Hat tip to Woodie Guthrie and Joni Mitchell.
ajm3s writes:
Great ad idea!
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