Title
Budget Calendar (NB)
The City Commission approve dates for discussion of the FY2016 budget.
Explanation
Staff requests the City Commission approve dates to discuss items related to the FY2016 budget. Topics of discussion will include an update to the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan Fire Assessment, Strategic Planning Retreat, Town Hall Meetings and the GRU and General Government Budgets.
For the last several years, the City Commission has held Community Forum/Town Hall meetings to discuss various topics and services with citizens. In October 2014, the City Commission held it first Telephone Town Hall meeting which had positive results. For FY2015, staff proposes two Town Hall Meetings, one face-to-face and one by telephone.
Staff requests the City Commission approve the following dates:
March 2, 2015 6:00pm-8:00pm - Community Forum (location to be determined)
April 6, 2015 6:00pm-8:00pm - Update to the Capital Improvement Plan of FY2015-2019
June 8, 2015 6:00pm-7:30pm - Telephone Town Hall Meeting
June 10, 2015 8:00am-5:30pm - Strategic Planning Retreat (location to be determined)
July 13, 2015 10:00am-6:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 14, 2015 10:00am-6:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 21, 2015 10:00am-6:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets, Adopt Preliminary Fire
Assessment Rate, by resolution
July 22, 2015 5:00pm-9:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 27, 2015 5:00pm-9:00pm - Adopt Tentative Budgets, Set Tentative Millage,
by resolution
September 10, 2015 6:00pm - Adopt Final Fire Assessment Rate, Adopt Ordinances on 1st
reading related to Fee or Rate Changes (if any), hold 1st Public
Hearing to Adopt Budgets and Set Millage Rate for FY2016
September 17, 2015 6:00pm - (Regular City Commission meeting) Adopt Ordinances on
2nd reading related to Fee or Rate Changes (if any), 2nd Public
Hearing to Adopt Budgets and Set Millage Rate for FY2016
Staff suggests the City Commission set the Preliminary Fire Assessment Rate immediately after the budget discussion on July 21, 2015, which will require the City Commission to waive the rules to hear the Resolution before 6:00pm.
Truth in Millage or TRIM requirements set forth in State Statutes require that various taxing authorities hold their public hearings on different dates and/or times in order to allow taxpayers to attend each hearing and provide feedback if desired. Taxing Authorities that cross multiple jurisdictions are given first priority on setting their public hearing dates. As a result, the City of Gainesville is required to set their public hearing dates in September so as not to conflict with the County, the School Board, the Library District and the Water Management Districts. In the event a conflict arises, staff will submit a revised schedule for September 2015 requesting alternative special meeting dates. These potential conflicts will not be known until July 2015.
Fiscal Note
All costs associated with these meetings are included in the FY2015 Operating Budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) approve the dates requested by staff; and 2) waive the City Commission Rules to hear the Resolution to approve the Preliminary Fire Assessment Rate before 6:00pm on July 21, 2015.