CC Minutes 02/20/2010 Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

INTRODUCTION The Casselberry City Commission and senior staff held aday-long retreat on February 20, 2010 to discuss issues of concern and for the elected officials to give direction to the staff as they develop the budget for FY 2010-11. Ms. Marilyn Crotty, Director of the Florida Institute of Government at the University of Central Florida, facilitated the workshop. Despite careful allocation of city resources, the continued downturn of the economy resulting in decreased revenues has changed the conversation from doing "more with less" to doing "less with less". After several presentations by staff, the commission discussed its effectiveness and then identified the priorities to focus on in the next fiscal year. During the final portion of the agenda, the elected officials set budget parameters for staff to follow. This report is a summary of the discussions at the workshop. DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE CITY Ms. Barbara Lipscomb, City Manager presented a recap of Casselberry's success in achieving sustainability. While the population of the city has been growing during the past decade, the past year showed a slight decline. However, the geographic size of the city has grown as has the median household income. The City Commission increased the millage rate for the current fiscal year, but the taxable value of the properties in the city fell as did the ad valorem revenue. Ms. Lipscomb showed the five year trend for taxable values in the city, the relationship between millage rates and property values, and the impact of legislative actions on city revenues. The City Manager reminded the Commission of the three keys to sustainability: economy, environment, and social justice and reviewed the strategies the city has followed to implement the goals set by the City Commission. BUDGETARY RECAP AND FORECAST Mr. Randy Newlon, Budget Director, reviewed the current budget, showing the derivation of revenues and the allocation of expenditures. In addition, he provided information on the past five years by fund type and expenditures by function. The final portion of his presentation was a financial forecast for the next five years based on a series of assumptions that showed property values continuing to decline through 2013, flat in 2014, and rising in 2015. The forecast included projected millage rates, a comparison of revenues to expenditures, and estimates of the fund balance and reserves. The conclusions he reached indicated that the city faces budget deficits for the next five years and that in order to be sustainable, the city will have to reduce expenses to meet projected revenues.