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Paul “Andy” Stewart
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Tab 11
Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
September 14, 2005
AUBURNDALE'S $23 MILLION BUDGET DRAWS NO OBJECTIONS; A POSSIBLE
REASON - PROPERTY TAX RATE IS UNCHANGED FOR THE 10TH YEAR IN A
ROW.
Author: MERISSA GREEN
AUBURNDALE -- Other than a misunderstanding from a group of county residents, there were
no strong criticisms or objections Monday night to the city's $23 million budget for the 2005-06
fiscal year. City commissioners approved the budget and property tax rate in a 4-0 vote.
Commissioner Allen Johnson was absent.
Commissioners are expected to give final approval to the budget Sept. 26. The public hearing on
the property tax drew a crowd of county residents who misunderstood a notice on their tax bill.
Once they found out they needed to be at the county's public hearing on property taxes, they left,
said Andy Stewart, assistant to the city manager, who spoke with the residents in the foyer
during the meeting.
City Commissioner Randy Spears said he's glad that the city isn't embroiled with controversy
over tax increases like county officials. "I'd like to congratulate the staff for holding the line," he
said. "I think we ought to be proud of what the city has accomplished."
For the 10th year in a row, the property tax rate is unchanged at $4.52 per $1,000 of taxable
property. This means the owner of a home valued at $125,000 with a $25,000 homestead
exemption would pay $452 in city property taxes next year.
After some adjustments to some line items, the contingency reserve decreased from $135,743 to
$121,810. The contingency reserve is a budgeted item for unanticipated expenses, said Finance
Director and City Clerk Shirley Lowrance. "It's to cushion the city's expenses," she said.
Commissioners were also able to get a preliminary budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year. City
Manager Bobby Green said that by including it, the staff has a starting point. "The effort here
was to blend our planning with our fiscal management," Green said. "Also noted in the 2007
budget is no increases in ad valorem taxes."
Commissioners seemed impressed. Mayor Marvin Wiley said including fiscal year 2006-07 in
the budget for next year is keeping the city ahead. "I like this double-budget," Wiley said. "It
gives you a look what's coming down the pike with the big-ticket items."
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