Title
Budget Calendar (NB)
The City Commission approve dates for discussion of the FY2013/2014 biennial budget.
Explanation
Staff requests the City Commission approve dates to discuss items related to the FY2013/2014 biennial budget. Topics of discussion will include an updated Five-Year Financial Forecast, Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, Fire Assessment, Strategic Planning Retreat, Town Hall Meetings and the GRU and General Government Budgets.
The City Commission's strategic initiative 4.3, Increase Opportunities for Civic Engagement includes holding Town Hall Meetings to provide citizen's with a chance to talk to Commissioners in a more informal setting. In recent years, the City Commission has held Town Hall meetings in each of the four districts and most recently decided to hold two meetings; one located on the East side of the City and one located on the West side of the City. In 2011, the Audit & Finance Committee discussed this initiative and recommended that the City continue holding two Town Hall meetings each year, with a gap of 4-6 months between the two meetings.
Staff requests the City Commission approve the following dates:
November 7, 2011 - 6:00pm-9:00pm - Town Hall Meeting (location to be determined)
January 30, 2012 - 2:30pm-6:30pm - Budget Planning Workshop & Five Year Financial Forecast (location to be determined)
February 6, 2012 - 6:00pm-9:00pm - Town Hall Meeting (location to be determined)
May 14, 2012 - 3:00pm-6:00pm - Capital Improvement Plan 2013-2017
June 19, 2012 - 8:0am-5:30pm - Strategic Planning Retreat (location to be determined)
July 11, 2012 - 10:00am-6:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 12, 2012 - 1:00pm-8:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 16, 2012 - 9:00am-3:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 17, 2012 - 9:00am-6:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets, Adopt Preliminary Fire Assessment Rate, by Resolution
July 23, 2012 - 9:00am-6:00pm GRU/General Government Budgets
July 24, 2012 - 9:00am-12:00pm - GRU/General Government Budgets
July 24, 2012-5:00pm-8:00pm -Adopt Tentative Budgets, Set Tentative Millage, by resolution
September 6, 2012 (Regular Meeting) - 6:00pm - Adopt Final Fire Assessment Rate, Hold 1st Public Hearing to Adopt Budgets and Set Millage Rate for FY2013
September 20, 2012 (Regular Meeting) 6:00pm - 2nd Public Hearing to Adopt Budgets and Set Millage Rate for FY2013
Staff suggests the City Commission set the Preliminary Fire Assessment Rate immediately after the budget discussion on July 17, 2012. This will likely occur sometime before 4:00pm which will require the City Commission to waive the rules to hear the Resolution before 5:00pm.
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. Staff is proposing that the City's public hearings occur during our regularly scheduled meetings in September 2012. This typically does not create a conflict with the other taxing authorities. However, in the event a conflict arises, staff will submit a revised schedule for September 2012 requesting special meeting dates. These potential conflicts will not be known until July 2012.
Fiscal Note
There is no fiscal impact.
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 5:00pm on July 17, 2012.