901 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Belleair, FL 33756

Town of Belleair

Meeting Minutes

Special Meeting

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

2:00 PM

Town Hall

Town Commission - Budget Workshop

Meeting was called to order at 2:02 PM with Mayor Wilkinson presiding,

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

COMMISSIONER ROLL CALL

Present

5 - Mayor Michael Wilkinson, Deputy Mayor Tom Shelly, Commissioner Patricia Barris,

Commissioner Thomas Kelly, and Todd Jennings

CITIZENS COMMENTS

None to be heard

GENERAL AGENDA

24-0070

Preliminary FY 2024-2025 Budget Discussion

Gay Lancaster-Town Manager-provided brief overview of historical budget,

changes from previous process to new; Belleair is a full service municipality,

budget reflects cost of doing business; this is first review, property tax

revenues and insurance numbers not yet received; best estimates and very

conservative.

Tina Porter-Finance Director-updated slides will be posted to online agenda

later; spoke on revenues; general fund has a deficit as well as enterprise

funds; conservative in estimating ad valorem revenues, but have not yet

received numbers from tax collector; important to provide last year's numbers

for better comparison.

Commissioner Kelly questioned transfer amount from general fund; Ms. porter

addressed. General operating and maintenance not previously budgeted for.

Ms. Porter continued presentation discussing equipment replacement; increase

costs in personnel, operating, capital equipment.

Commissioner Barris questioned changes to capital projects; Ms. Porter stated

fewer capital projects included this year. Ms. Lancaster clarified further.

Ms. Porter spoke on special revenue fund; some expenditures could be

allocated here to help balance the budget; Park, Rec & Tree Board will be

discussing; spoke on debt service fund.

Ms. Porter spoke on each department beginning with the legislative program;

next was executive budget which is town administration, increased

expenditures for legal fees, contractual services where consultants are used

fall to administration if not tied to a specific department; comprehensive

planning budget also contract services; other governmental services has a

significant increase, discussed items; contingencies for facilities built in.

Commissioner Kelly requested sewer cost clarification; Ms. Porter addressed.

Ms. Lancaster spoke on permitting fees and a study being done, not currently

covering costs.

Ms. Porter next spoke on support services department; consists of accounting,

human resources, communications, software, asset management; increases to

the fire services contract anticipated as well as consultants; grant assistance

will be needed; general liability insurance increasing; increased training budget.

Ms. Porter reviewed police department next; major increase to capital;

conservative basis of seven year replacement for vehicles; equipment also

included in replacement plan.

Mayor Wilkinson questioned transfer. Ms. Porter stated number may decrease

once final audit is completed, spoke on it being under-funded; line by line

capital equipment fund and capital equipment replacement fund will be

reviewed at June meeting. Ms. Lancaster spoke on setting aside the large

amount upfront.

Chief Doyle spoke on police department vehicles not included in previous lease

practice; addressed questions regarding costs; off duty revenue line; spoke on

take home car program and extended longevity of vehicles.

Ms. Porter continued discussing equipment replacement fund; building up

reserves; addressed questions, will be able to dive deeper in June meeting.

Continued presentation by discussing recreation department; change is

modest, personnel changes, no director, split between recreation and streets;

Ms. Lancaster noted that after school transportation has been eliminated.

Presentation continued with public works; discussion on grounds maintenance

line; includes sidewalks etc. Ms. Lancaster commented on Ryan's team for

items handled in-house to save on expenses.

Commissioner Jennings questioned increases; Ms. Porter stated lines

consolidated, some contractual services, many items now housed in other

services. Mr. Womack detailed items in services. Comments on mowing

throughout town.

Ms. Porter spoke on water enterprise fund; Pinellas County increase of 6%,

factored in, fund still not balanced even with increase; working with Florida

Rural Water Association to assess needs for this budget and in future years;

payments for RO plant and lead service line loans to be made; Ms. Lancaster

spoke on while the loan is forgiven, it doesn't cover all items, Florida Rural

Water Association helping to provide true numbers; labor intensive efforts and

unexpected costs occurring, need to establish a better reserve.

Mayor Wilkinson questioned equipment replacement for the water department;

Ms. Porter addressed.

Ms. Porter discussed the solid waste enterprise fund next; increase in

personnel due to anticipated merit increases, one vacant position which is not

being funded; cost of recycling is significant, contract has an automatic

increase; changes anticipated once rates can be assessed, anticipates

increase needed.

Commissioner Kelly questioned a rate comparison with other municipalities our

size. Ms. Lancaster stated one can be provided, need to cover operating costs;

recycling increase is annual increase.

Ms. Porter continued discussing solid waste fund; spoke on equipment

replacement fund; Mayor Wilkinson commented on replacement costs.

Ms. Porter moved on to capital improvement fund; spoke on revenue sources

and debt funding; stormwater fee has not increased, may need analysis;

Deputy Mayor Shelly commented on potential for need to review stormwater

fees and adjust as appropriate.

Capital Improvement fund revenues were further reviewed; Ms. Lancaster

stated funding for Indian Rocks Road Phase 3 has been secured; spoke on not

diving into reserves for funding, need to set aside dollars for when bill comes

due; provided comment that this is not a fat budget, but it is the right number

for cost of work that needs done.

Ms. Porter continued discussing capital improvement fund, replacements;

seeking grant funding where possible; spoke on ABM facility lease agreement

repayment obligations; Ms. Lancaster spoke on dissatisfaction, it was financed

over time and we are obligated to repay; Ms. Porter noted final revenue bond

will be concluded in 2034.

Ms. Lancaster requested discussion on minimum required fund balances. Ms.

Porter stated upcoming review of financial management policy at next meeting;

fund balance required by policy needs reviewed, recommendations will be

brought forward. Ms. Porter spoke on current numbers, general operating has

reserves for 90 days.

Commissioner Kelly questioned options to raise revenue; Ms. Porter discussed

various options, can use a combination. Ms. Lancaster stated incurring

additional debt would not be a good option, to which the Commission was in

agreement. Further discussion on areas for adjustments.

Ms. Lancaster spoke on importance of keeping up with maintenance and

addressing infrastructure needs; spoke on dramatic increases projected from

Tampa Bay water by consultant, Town is wise in keeping it's own supply.

Ms. Porter concluded presentation.

Mayor Wilkinson stated having different scenarios would be helpful; Ms.

Lancaster spoke on very limited commercial properties and how that affects

the tax revenue; will have the Finance Board recommendations brought

forward as well as projected scenarios and individual meetings with each

Commissioner for the June meeting.