M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: June 22, 2016
Re: Fiscal Year 2016-17 Budget Visioning Workshop
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In prior years, the Town has typically held its budget workshops in July and August. In an effort to gain better insight into the Town Council’s vision for the upcoming fiscal year, Town Staff, in consultation with the Council, decided to hold a “Budget Visioning Workshop” in the month of June. During this First Budget Workshop, plans and ideas for the upcoming budget year will be discussed openly and freely in a “brainstorm” style session.
This First Budget Workshop will not be a review of “budget numbers”, but rather a vision including plans and ideas for the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. With the guidance obtained during this First Budget Workshop, Town Staff will develop a detailed financial budget incorporating the plans and ideas agreed upon, and will present such to the Mayor and Town Council during our Second Budget Workshop, currently scheduled for July 18, 2016.
To start the thought process ahead of the June workshop, Town Staff has identified several items for the Council to consider. The items include, but are not limited to:
1. Preliminary Property Value Estimates from the Property Appraiser indicate an approximate 7.3% increase in property values for 2016. This is subject to change and the “certified” taxable value will be issued by the Property Appraiser on or before July 1st. Given that, Town Staff believes that the Town Council would like for us to build the budget holding the millage rate the same as what is currently in effect for this 2015-16 fiscal year (2.3907 mils).
2. Unless directed otherwise by the Town Council, Town Staff currently anticipates no change in Police staffing.
3. During our current Fiscal Year (2015-16), Town Staff has budgeted for certain significant capital projects.
Most of these projects have not yet commenced, or are in the early design phases, and Staff currently anticipates budgeting these projects for their completion in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget.
The more significant projects include:
• Cutler Bay Town Center Improvements
Ø HVAC Replacement
Ø Impact Windows (Design Phase)
Ø Parking Lot Lighting Upgrades
Ø Lobby Improvements
Ø Restroom Upgrades (Floors 3-6)
Ø Security Cameras
• Parks & Recreation Department
Ø Utilization of Park Impact Fees
• Town Clerk’s Office
Ø Implementation of Laserfiche Web Citizen Portal
4. While Town Staff continues to anticipate budgeting in order to maintain the current levels of service in our Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget, we are anticipating budgeting for some of the following significant initiatives:
• Public Works Department
Ø Continue sidewalk repair program funded with gas taxes
Ø Add weekend litter pickup service
Ø Caribbean Blvd message board
Ø Caribbean Blvd Gap #2 (JPA and PTP funds)
Ø Continued roadway resurfacing projects (PTP funds)
Ø Construction of Town-wide bus shelters (PTP funds)
Ø Adding a Sunday Circulator bus route (PTP funds)
Ø Pointe Royal drainage project (Stormwater Fund)
Ø Safe Routes to School project
• Parks & Recreation Department
Ø Various park improvements (non-impact fees), such as fencing, netting, and re-sodding at various parks
• Cutler Bay Town Center Improvements
Ø Develop Community Center facility on premises
• General Government
Ø Laserfiche implementation for human resources
Ø Implement online employment applications
Ø Offsite computer backup service
Ø Videographer (Cutler Bay 360)
Ø Phone system lease
Town Staff looks forward to discussing the above items with the Town Council at our First Budget Visioning Workshop and to gaining further insight from the Town Council as to the programs and initiatives it would like for Town Staff to incorporate into the upcoming 2016-17 Fiscal Year budget.