Oakland commissioners warned of budget deficit

In a report to Oakland town commissioners, Town Manager Elise Hui shared the town could be facing a budget deficit. 

“Right now, it’s not looking super great,” Hui said at the commission’s meeting Tuesday, May 27. “We’re in a deficit position. We will be looking to make some cuts.”

According to Hui, one contributing factor to the anticipated deficit is the town’s growing list of infrastructure projects that could be funded through impact fees, which are charges collected from developers to help pay for public services required by new growth. However, current impact fee rates are not sufficient to meet the demands of these planned projects, prompting town staff to consider raising the fees to better align revenue with future capital needs.

Town officials also are preparing to examine potential revenue sources and spending cuts. 

Hui outlined innovative approaches to generate additional revenue, including a proposed cell tower ordinance that would allow the town to place infrastructure on municipal properties. 

“We could look at placing a cell tower on one of our properties to increase public safety as well as potentially bring in some revenue for the town,” Hui said. 

To address fiscal constraints, two impact fee work sessions are scheduled, with a preliminary budget hearing planned for June. Staff is meeting individually with commissioners to review legislative budgets. 

The upcoming budget work sessions will provide a detailed look at Oakland’s fiscal strategy and possible areas for financial adjustment.

The commission is collaborating with Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc., a consulting group, on an impact fee study and will hold public sessions on the impact fee increase ordinance on Tuesday, June 10, and Tuesday, July 8. In these sessions, if the Oakland Town Commission approves the ordinance on Tuesday, July 8, the effective date will be Wednesday, Aug. 13, following the 90-day notice period. 

The financial team, led by Finance Director Gabbie Leon, currently is awaiting final reports from the Orange County Property Appraiser, which will provide crucial data for the potential reallocation of funds. 

Asphalt Millings Petition 

During public comments, resident Scott Hren presented a draft petition challenging the town’s recent road project in Oakland Shores, explicitly targeting the use of asphalt millings as a road surface material. Hren said he surveyed 47 residents in Oakland Shores, with 88.8% of residents expressing dissatisfaction.

The petition titled “Petition to Pave Oakland Shores” has yet to be filed with the town but had five signatures as of Tuesday, May 27. 

“We, the undersigned residents of Oakland Shores, respectfully petition the Town of Oakland to remove the existing asphalt millings from our neighborhood streets and to repave them using hot mix asphalt,” the petition read. “We believe this improvement is essential to enhance road safety, durability and air quality, thereby improving the overall health and quality of life in our community.” 

The town commission has not yet formally responded to the petition. 

Hren showed the commission multiple examples of hazards embedded in the road material, including sharp debris such as broken glass fragments, PVC fragments and metal wires. 

“Today, I urge the commission to halt the asphalt millings project and prioritize a thorough review with resident input,” Hren said. “Our health, safety and quality of life depend on it.”

In other news..

The commission presented a plaque to Amy Quesinberry Price, of Winter Garden, in honor of her covering the Oakland Town Commission for the West Orange Times & Observer for the past 35 years. She was given a framed photo of Oakland Town Hall, signed by Mayor Shane Taylor and other commissioners. “You’ve helped preserve our history one headline at a time,” Taylor told her. 

 The town commission also issued a proclamation for LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrated in June.

A proclamation also was issued for Memorial Day. Commissioner Sal Ramos noted the Memorial Day ceremony, held Monday, May 26, was “long overdue” but “only going to get better.”