TOWN OF HILLSBORO BEACH

TOWN COMMISSION

FIRST BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING

SEPTEMBER 14, 2006

5:15 P.M.

MINUTES

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1. Call to Order and Roll Call.

Mayor Sussman called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M. Commission members present: Mayor Howard ‘Chuck’ Sussman, Vice Mayor Larry B. Fink, Commissioner Lee Bennett, Commissioner Dan Dodge. Commissioner Alan J. Polin was not present. Also present were Town Manager Robert Mearns, Police Chief Felix Brugnoni, Water Superintendent Rodney A. Main and approximately 5 members of the public.

2. First Public Hearing on proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget.

Mayor Sussman opened the public hearing and no members of the public spoke.

Commissioner Polin arrived at 5:17 P.M.

Mr. Mearns reviewed the FY 2007 budget, noting that although the Commission had reduced the actual tax from 2.81 to 2.51 mills, the advertised millage rate was 2.51 mills, the roll back rate was 2.4034 mils and the millage rate was 4.43% above the rollback rate which necessitated an advertised increase in taxes.

The Commission went through the budget by line item and decided to increase the budget by adding $10,000 for defibrillator purchase, $20,000 for buoy maintenance and repair, and $75,000 for beach renourishment. The budget was reduced by $113,925 by eliminating the reserve for the Challenge Grant.

Commissioner Polin suggested that the use of the $500,000 in proceeds from the Challenge Grant could be added to the budget as a revenue, lowering the millage rate. Mayor Sussman suggested that the proceeds be used to reduce the $700,000 note the town was carrying on the Police Station/Community Room. Commissioner Bennett stated that he would rather the Town use its excess surplus to reduce the millage rate then tax the property owners before the money was actually needed to support operations. There was general agreement with this position. Discussion ensued and it was decided to not show the Challenge Grant as revenue; and when the money was received from the Grant to then amend the budget.

Vice-Mayor Fink made a motion to set the millage rate at 2.25 mills, leave the expenditure side the same, and to use Fund Balance as the source of funds to make up the difference, seconded by Commissioner Dodge. Motion passed unanimously.

Vice-Mayor Fink made a motion to schedule second Public Hearing on the budget for Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 5:15 PM, seconded by Commissioner Dodge. Motion passed unanimously.

7. Adjournment.

7:09 P.M.

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Persons are advised that should they should decide to appeal any decision made at this meeting/hearing they will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (§286.0105, FS)

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled to the provision of certain assistance. At least forty-eight (48) hours prior to this meeting, please contact the Town Hall, 1210 Hillsboro Mile, Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062, 954-427-4011. (§286.26, FS)