City Council cannot reach consensus on millage
Cape Coral City Council on Friday on the second day of its summer retreat at the Palmetto Pine Country Club was unable to reach a consensus on what millage rate it would like to see in the city’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
There was fairly equal support for three rates, the rollback rate of 5.4292, 5.7052 and 5.915, with three in support of the rollback rate.
The current millage is 6.25 percent. However, the taxable value of the city rose more than 20 percent last year, meaning the city would have a windfall if it chose to go with that rate.
Finance Director Mark Mason said he would craft a budget using the rollback rate and show City Council what it would mean for a city that desperately needs certain items to draw people to the community.
Among the things council members wanted to see was the addition of an aquatic center and the construction of an athletic facility for Oasis High School that could also be used for other sports programs when the school isn’t using it.
However, those are more wants than needs and the decision will have to be made when the budget process really kicks into gear in August whether to nix those proposals or add them to the budget and perhaps force a higher millage.
The council went through its “parking lot” items and seemed to agree there was a need for five pocket parks for people to access the water with their boats and to upgrade Basin 4, all of which would cost about $500,000.
Council agreed engineering and design for Oasis Park could be done this coming fiscal year for $800,000 and that a feasibility study should be done for an aquatic center.
Among the items council believes could be put off for a year included improvements to Jaycee Park, the expansion of the Solid Waste Department to include a permanent facility, renovations to the golf course and a fire station alert system.
When it came to decide on a not-to-exceed millage, that has to be done shortly after summer recess, there was disagreement.
Councilmembers Jessica Cosden and Tom Hayden wanted to see the rate between 5.7 and 5.9, while Mayor John Gunter and Councilmembers Keith Long and Jennifer Nelson wanted the rollback rate. Two other council members, Robert Welsh and Gloria Tate, were at 5.7, with Dan Sheppard leaning toward the rollback.
“We talked about all the things we want and I don’t think we’ll be able to add any of them,” Cosden said.
The Budget Review Committee, which made its remarks throughout the two-day retreat, was also conflicted.
Joanne Gruber, chairperson for the BRC, liked some of the ideas, especially regarding reserves and the new format that included a budget retreat and an early budget introduction. The millage, not so much.
“I appreciate the work Mark has done and has taken a nice middle-of-the-road approach. We should use the 5.7 millage Mark put in the budget,” Gruber said. “I think we have a stable base for building a viable budget that will meet much of the needs of the community.”
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com