The meeting’s primary spotlight was on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, specifically addressing the millage rate and its implications for property taxes. The village manager presented a budget based on a millage rate of three mills, with an expressed goal to reduce it to at least 2.65 mills, matching the previous year’s rate. This effort is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the impact of increasing property values on tax revenues while managing non-discretionary expenses such as pay raises for firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, which are dictated by collective bargaining agreements. Concerns were raised about the lack of pay raises or cost-of-living adjustments for non-union employees, which highlighted the ongoing challenge of managing village costs effectively.

Public safety staffing was a significant topic, with the sheriff addressing the council to justify a budget increase of $495,000, solely attributed to personnel services. The sheriff explained the necessity for additional staffing beyond the 18 allotted positions to ensure adequate coverage during nighttime hours when crime rates typically rise. He emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive salaries to retain skilled public safety workers, drawing comparisons with nearby jurisdictions like Key West and Marathon. The sheriff’s request was not to expand unnecessarily but to meet the baseline needs for effective law enforcement.

The council also discussed financial returns from unutilized contracts, with $175,000 from the previous year contributing to the purchase of a new boat for the city. This financial prudence was acknowledged by a council member who praised the sheriff for his fiscal responsibility, highlighting the high demands managed with limited resources by the law enforcement officers.

In tandem with public safety, the council delved into employee health benefits, facing a proposed increase of 10.6%, which would add approximately $474,000 to the budget if the village absorbed the entire cost. Alternatively, sharing costs with employees would result in a slightly lower total of $463,000. This sparked a debate about whether to absorb the cost fully or distribute it among employees, with minor monthly increases depending on coverage tiers. The discussion was further complicated by collective bargaining agreements locking in certain percentages for employee contributions, exempting firefighters from these changes.

This would allow existing employees to retain their current plans while offering different options to new hires, emphasizing fairness and retention within the constraints of village finances.

Overtime and housing allowances were another focal point, with discussions on budget management focusing on finding incremental savings and exploring outsourcing options for services like cleaning public restrooms. The council considered various cost-reduction measures, such as moving committee meetings to daytime hours to reduce overtime expenses and negotiating set prices with preferred vendors for vehicle repairs.