Windermere approves 2014-15 budget

A fiscal 2015 budget of almost $4.2 million and a property tax rate of 3.78 mills received the Town Council’s approval Sept. 22.

Council Members Mike Pirozzolo and Richard Gonzalez were absent when the council cast its final budget and tax-rate votes. Gonzalez showed up later in the evening, after the council had switched gears to discuss the town’s tree ordinance.

The 3.78 tax rate is the same as the current year’s rate and almost 1% more than the rolled-back rate. With higher property values factored in, town officials anticipate collecting $2.1 million in property tax revenue in the new budget year, or $94,168 more than they received from last year’s property tax levy.

The new fiscal year began Oct. 1. The new budget is a very positive budget, Mayor Gary Bruhn said.

“We’re keeping our tax rate at the same rate that it’s been for the past several years,” he said.

Similar to many municipalities, the bulk of Windermere’s new budget expenditures are for public safety. For example, the largest expense is the $668,244 allotted for police department salaries. Overall, police department expenditures in the new budget total almost $1.6 million.