TOWN OF LANTANA
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
April 22, 2009
6:00 p.m.
1.ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:Mayor Stewart, Vice Mayor Deringer,Vice Mayor Pro Tem Austino, Councilmember Moorhouse, and Councilmember Tennyson.
ALSO PRESENT:Mr. Bornstein, Town Manager; Mr. Kaplan, Finance Director;Mrs. Gibson, Town Clerk;and approximately 16 spectators.
Mayor Stewart called the budget workshop to order at 6:04 p.m.and Mrs. Gibson called the roll. There was a moment of silent prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Stewart then noted all other staff and residents present.
2. STAFF PRESENTATION OF FY 2009-2010 BUDGET
Mr. Bornstein welcomed all attendees and gave an overview of the challenges the Town was facing towards its 2010 budget based on the tax reduction issues at hand. Mr. Bornstein said this year’s budgeting process was the most difficult because of the economy. He explained it was important for the Finance Department to look at what was going on around the State via professional organizations to estimate where revenues were going. He also explained the meeting was to present an overview of the Town’s finances, including obstacles, to help determine how the budget would be framed. Then, the meeting was turned over to Finance Director Stephen Kaplan for the FY 2009-2010 budget highlights.
Mr. Kaplan began by presenting where the Town was in the budget process. He gave the current fiscal year status on General Fund revenues and compared those with projected revenues for FY 2009. He then presented different General Fund, Transportation Fund and Utilities Fund scenarios that could happen depending on revenues from Town assessed valuation, millage rates, property taxes and economic conditions. In closing, Mr. Kaplan said the next two budget workshops would be on June 22nd and July 27th, a proposed budget would be prepared in August at the Council’s direction, and the proposed budget would be presented, discussed and adopted in September.
Some of the items included in council comments were concerns of reduced personnel and/or personnel benefits, the possible need to increase property taxes, maintaining core services, keeping the community and employees happy while balancing the budget, proposed bills matriculating through the House and Senate that may negatively affect the Town’s revenues, and ways to increase revenues through Town fees.
Mayor Stewart asked for any public comments from residents or employees. Resident Bob Little commented.
Councilmember Moorhouse asked staff to compile a list of where the Town could make budget cuts and have the list distributed to the Town Council.
3.ADJOURNMENT:
The motion was made and carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned
at7:35 p.m.
AYE NAY
______Mayor Stewart
______
Vice Mayor Deringer
______
Councilmember Austino
______
Councilmember Moorhouse
______
Councilmember Tennyson
ATTEST:
Town Clerk
1
.