- April 24, 2024
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The Palm Coast City Council will have about a $1.9 million budget shortfall in the general fund for 2011-2012.
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon began budget discussions at the City Council’s July 12 workshop by telling council members they have choices.
But, the choices will not be easy — Mayor Jon Netts suggested cutting a fire station — as the City Council studies the budget for the next several weeks.
One thing is for sure: There will be about a $1.9 million shortfall in the $25.87 million general fund for 2012. How the city plans to balance its budget is still unclear.
At the July 5 regular meeting of the City Council, Finance Director Ray Britt presented four main departments the council could target for cuts: code enforcement, law enforcement, streets and fire.
At the July 12 workshop, those big four departments were still targeted. Landon proposed smaller changes that could help make ends meet.
The city could cut grants to organizations such as Flagler Senior Services, the Florida Agricultural Museum, the Palm Coast Historical Society and Enterprise Flagler. However, that would account for a less than $350,000.
According to Britt, an additional 5.5 full-time positions are proposed to be cut from next year’s budget. All of those are currently vacant positions, though.
The city’s largest budget — fire — was budgeted about $7.54 million for 2011. The proposed fire budget for 2012 is $7.34 million, a decrease of $195,781, or 2.6%.
Mayor Jon Netts threw out the idea of the city completely “getting out of fire services.”
If the City Council decided to close one fire station, it would cut about $1 million and nine positions, but would also reduce services.
“The bottom line,” Netts said, “is that if you don’t want to cut anything, you’re going to raise the millage rate and the rollback rate. I’m willing to look at fire because it’s the biggest of the four.”
Any final decisions about the city’s fire and emergency medical services are far from final, but it is being discussed.
Another option is for the city not to run any EMS services. Instead, Landon suggested the county completely take over.
“We duplicate that service,” Landon said.
Code enforcement could be another target. Britt’s presentation included an option that cuts one code enforcement team, which comprises two officers and an administrative support person. That cut could lead to about a $144,000 savings.
Toward the end of the meeting, it was stated that Britt, Landon and Palm Coast Fire Chief Mike Beadle would sit down and look further into the fire department’s numbers.
The tentative schedule, according to Britt’s presentation, has a general fund and property tax discussion slated for the city’s July 26 workshop.
Then, on Aug. 2, the City Council will set its proposed millage rate. On Aug. 9, prosperity, special revenue and capital project funds will be discussed. Aug. 23 will be the city’s final proposed budget presentation. Then, Sept. 13 will be the first public hearing and tentative adoption of the 2012 millage rate and budget.
Finally, on Sept. 27, about 10 weeks from now, the Palm Coast City Council will hold its final public hearing and final adoption of the 2012 millage rate and budget.
