Maitland City Talk

Managing public money is a matter of public trust, and we take that job seriously. There are many definitions of fiscal responsibility, and we look to our history as a city to govern our actions to prepare for the future. We have always charged our departments to run efficiently, and through our performance-based budgeting system we regularly report to our elected officials how the resources we requested meet the needs of our stakeholders. The elected officials evaluate the levels of service we achieve against the resources requested. The opinions of our residents, businesses, board and committee members are solicited at every Council meeting.

Maitland has a tradition of conservatism, which through the years has positioned us well to deal with economic downturns. Twenty positions still remained unfunded that are not related to public safety services, but are hindering staff in meeting citizen expectations. Managing city resources involves more than “not spending.” The more difficult task is managing resources: assessing needs, setting priorities and appropriating funds. It’s easier to say “no” to everything. It’s much harder to research the city’s responsibilities and past performance; to assess the needs in various departments; and ultimately decide where the money should go.

Again in FY 2014 budget preparations, department heads were charged with reducing expenditures and evaluating open positions. But also, they were charged with coming forward with areas where needs existed and funds did not allow fulfillment of the expectations of our citizens. On July 22, the city manager presented a budget at the current tax rate of 3.88 and kept the operational services at the current level, but included a list of several areas where additional funding would benefit the citizens of Maitland. Those areas included several unfunded positions that had become critical needs: one communications position, two grounds maintenance positions and a facilities maintenance position. The proposed budget included a planned drawdown of three designations that comprise a portion of the city’s $13.5 million dollars in unreserved fund balance for expenditures related to those specific designations ($250,000 from the designation for capital improvements for transportation projects, $289,000 from the designation for Community Redevelopment debt service and $10,000 from the designation for Cultural Corridor improvements). In the proposed budget, there is no drawdown of the city’s designation for emergencies (hurricanes, disasters, etc.) currently funded at $3.1 million, approximately 15 percent of annual expenditures, per policy.

During the public budget discussions, requests for additional funding for specific requests from the Maitland Public Library ($37,000) and Performing Arts of Maitland ($6,000), as well as funding for Parks Master Plan delayed projects ($188,000), were considered. On July 22, the City Council unanimously voted to set the proposed operating millage rate at 4.1 mills, generating tax revenue approximately 7 percent more than the current 3.88 tax rate, and funding the four unfilled city positions and the three additional funding requests. This is the rate that appears on the notice of proposed tax property taxes mailed last week by the Orange County Property Appraisers Office. At 4.1 mills our operating millage rate will remain one of the lowest in Central Florida.

In addition to continued cautionary spending with the tentative economic recovery, we need to plan ahead for critical infrastructure needs such as transportation and parks. Although significant accomplishments have been made within our park system, larger park programs have been delayed due to lack of funding. The city continues to fund efforts to stimulate redevelopment and reduce dependence on automobiles.

A city’s budget is balanced if its resources equal or exceed its expenditures. This allows for a deficit in periods of low economic prospects that, however, needs to be matched by a surplus in periods of high economic activity. Fiscal responsibility in the public sector is achieved when the elected officials have enough discipline to be able to equate revenues with expenditures over the long term. A city’s life is indefinite; a city never plans for retirement and does not have a profit motive. Dividends are only paid in terms of the benefits received by our residents. Fiscal responsibility in Maitland is looking into the future and planning effectively to meet those needs. A financially feasible plan is the most efficient use of the resources currently available to continue building our city as a “community for life.”

The City Council values and desires feedback from our citizens. The following dates are the public meetings where the public can comment on the FY 2014 proposed budget and tax rate:

Aug. 26, 2013, Stormwater Rate for FY 2014 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting

Sept. 9, 2013, Tentative Millage Rate – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting

Sept. 23, 2013, Adopted Millage Rate – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting

Written by: Sharon M. Anselmo, Assistant City Manager