Maitland City Talk

On Monday, Sept. 14, the City Council will hold the first of two public meetings required to adopt the fiscal year 2016 millage rate. Final adoption of the city’s fiscal year 2016 budget and millage rate is scheduled for Sept. 28. Both public meetings will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. Many steps are taken to ensure citizen participation in the budget process, including holding advisory board meetings to discuss the Capital Improvements Program, three budget workshops and a strategic planning session. On July 27, the City Council adopted a proposed operating millage rate of 4.25 mills, which will be communicated to taxpayers via the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices mailed by the Orange County Property Appraiser this month.

At 4.25 mills, the City’s operating millage will generate $8.7 million in Ad Valorem tax revenue. Ad Valorem tax is the single largest revenue for the city, accounting for approximately 37 percent of total revenues. The city’s current taxable value is just over $2.2 billion, an increase of 10 percent over the FY 2015 taxable value, but still 12 percent less than the city’s taxable value of $2.6 billion in FY 2009. Increasing the millage rate from the current rate of 4.15 to 4.25 mills generates an additional $204,000 in General Fund revenue.

As proposed, the FY 2016 General Fund budget totals just under $26 million, which is 9 percent more than FY 2015 original budget. The budget supports our primary business of providing core municipal services such as police and fire protection; maintenance of streets, parks, physical properties, computers, vehicles, equipment, street signs, and traffic signals; recreational programming; building construction review; and administrative services including planning, zoning, fiscal management and personnel administration. In addition to providing core services, this budget focuses on several key initiatives identified by the Council in their strategic planning session. These initiatives include improving the quality of neighborhoods, engaging and supporting the business community, maintaining and expanding infrastructure, developing Maitland’s identity, improving transportation city-wide, and planning comprehensively for downtown development.

The General Fund budget draft also provides for $2.2 million in capital improvement projects for FY 2016. These capital projects include: $744,000 for the General Fund’s portion of the Independence Lane Festival Street; $332,000 in city-wide sidewalk improvements; $279,000 in street repair and paving projects; $225,000 for a new traffic signal at Maitland Avenue and Horatio Avenue; $150,000 for maintenance to the 17-92 pedestrian overpass; $107,000 in city-wide facility upgrades; $120,000 in entry feature and street-scape; and $200,000 in park upgrades and refurbishments. The budget also includes requested contributions of $647,000 to the Maitland Public Library, $308,000 to the Art & History Museums – Maitland, and $58,000 to the Performing Arts of Maitland.

For additional details on the FY 2016 budget please visit the city’s website at itsmymaitland.com. Hard copies of the FY 2016 Budget Draft are also available for review at City Hall.