While you are busy planning your summer vacation, the bean counters at City Hall are busy counting the beans, and deciding how they get spent next year.
And there is a lot of beans to spend! Five hundred and seventy two million!
As a comparison, my last year as a Commissioner, 2003, saw a budget of three hundred thirty five million.
The recommended budget is put together by the City Manager and his staff, and is ultimately approved in September by the City Commission, after a public hearing in which there will be nearly no citizens being heard ( because they will not attend).
Anyhow, here are some highlights from this year’s nearly 100 page City Budget!
The budget of 572 million is 8.5 million more than last year. They can do that because our real estate is finally worth more (6 million) than last year. I’m not sure where they get the other 2.5 million, but they probably found it behind some bean counters desk!
The Police Department will get 93 milliion ( more on that in a minute), the Fire Department 67 million, the Parks Department 38 million.
The Water Department drinks up 129 million, then add Trash at 23 million, the Executive Airport with 8 million, debt service at 34 million, sprinkle with all sorts of projects to fix bridges, the riverwalk, the beach, 85 million – stir and spend!
Some of the more interesting nuggets –
Climate Change Initiative – $174,000
More Lifeguards – $350,000
A Federal Lobbyist – $40,000
A Fundraiser – $93,000
New Lobby Furniture for the Building Department – $100,000 … huh??
And back to the Police Department –
They are getting a million less than last year, but are getting some new goodies –
Traffic message speed signs – $56,000
Engines for Police Boats – $42,800
T-3 Motion Patrolman – (pictured below) $47,936
Maybe the Chief can do his house calls on those !
Just a fun aside… Have the building department reclaim furnishings from donations. $100K …shameful
First of all what about a rebate to the residents. W/ all this money coming in and w/ property values on a major increase every resident should be able to get a 250.00 rebate. Mr.Feldman raised the fire assessment, yes I agree Lee, but did you have to nearly double it(see what I mean). As far as 100g for office funiture(come on). I mean spend, spend, spend. How about giving back a little to the residents. Its like this Mr.Feldman. We elect(except for me-that will change soon) the commission who we let run the kingdom(our town), then they (comm) give the keys to the kingdom to Mr.Feldman, to run the kingdom, but never forget we are the kingdom….
I don’t see anything in there for the paving of 15th St in South Middle River… dirt road for most of the length of 15th St from Andrews to Powerline. Disgraceful.