Islamorada council members voted 3-2 on a tentative tax rate and spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year during a Sept. 5 budget hearing. There were differences on funding levels for a new land acquisition fund, while others believed budget cuts were still needed before final approval.
Dollar amounts could change as council members convene Sept. 17 for a final budget hearing to set the final property tax rate and budget for 2024-25.
Three workshops held last month ended with council members verbally agreeing to levy $16.7 million in property taxes for village government operations. A $1.3 million median home in the village would see a $194.86 decrease in their property tax bills.
With funds needed for land acquisition, a pool renovation at Founders Park and a facility recreation attendant, Mayor Buddy Pinder, councilman Mark Gregg and councilwoman Elizabeth Jolin supported a tentative property tax levy of $18.2 million during the Sept. 5 hearing. A property tax bill for the median village home would show an increase of $1.05.
Councilman Henry Rosenthal and Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney voted against the measure, as they backed a lesser figure. Rosenthal specifically took issue with dollars budgeted for overtime, equating to a little more than $280,000, in the tentative spending plan.
“I always said if you put it in the budget they’re going to use it. To me it’s backwards,” Rosenthal said.
Mahoney said the overtime, as well as $105,200 in the budget for holiday lights, could be slashed to budget for a new planner and a deputy chief of training for the fire department.
A total of $1 million in the tentative budget would fund land acquisitions in the village in a bid to relieve possible takings cases. Gregg wanted to see $3 million budgeted for the cause.
The tentative spending plan also includes pay bumps of 5% for all employees to account for increasing living costs. The village continues to negotiate with its only collective bargaining unit, the International Association of Firefighters Local 4347. They, too, could receive a similar increase, if and when the sides reach an agreement.
Council members also agreed to budget nearly $70,000 for local charitable causes despite some concerns from the public and the dais regarding the use of taxpayer funds to support a number of nonprofits. First Baptist Church Islamorada’s Community Ministry, Good Health Clinic and the coral restoration group, I.CARE, are expected to receive the most, $10,000 each. Council members also elected to give AHEC, which provides medical and dental services to Keys children, a total of $5,000.
Some council members said the next council should consider whether to continue doling out village funds to local nonprofits.
“I believe that the taxpayer should have a right to give the money to the (nonprofit) that they choose themselves instead of us giving the money away for them,” Pinder said.
Funds were excluded for a village hall remodel of the first-floor bathroom and second floor and a design for a new public works facility.
Between property tax collections and other sources of income, the village would gather $26.5 million in revenue in order to pay the roughly $26.2 million in expenditures for day-to-day operations for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Public safety accounts for $11.4 million of the budget, followed by $7 million for general government, which includes planning, finance, village manager, village clerk, IT and code compliance departments.
Council members have the ability to adjust the property tax rate and overall spending plan at a final budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 5:01 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center.
