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In Islamorada it has not taken two decades to double spending … Village spending has more than doubled in the last 7 years!
Last Thursday, the Council approved a tentative millage rate creating tax revenues somewhere between 9 and 10% more than last year. And Islamorada increased in taxable value by well over $500 million in the last year.
Length of Budget Hearing: about 2 hours to approve expenditures of $67 million.
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Personnel pay: The Human Resources director indicated on average Village salaries are 13% below standards for comparable positions elsewhere in the area.
The proposed budget includes a 3% cost of living pay increase for all employees, plus up to 3% for employee merit raises for selected employees.
Nearly a quarter of the meeting was spent discussing a special 19.39% pay raise for the fire chief, though oddly his name and position were not stated publicly. Because his benefits include 37.74% annual funding for retirement, the total cost of his raise to taxpayers will be just over $35,000/year.
Village Manager Ron Saunders also confirmed that while no salary increases were approved by Council for the current year budget, in April 2026, he did provide a pay increase to several employees, including the fire chief.
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A Public Works building, $50,000 “conceptual design” was approved, believed to have been for the hammock on the hill to the far south end of Founders Park next to Gimpy Gulch. Shouldn’t the shocking damage at the hammock because of the existing Public Works use there be addressed? Click here for photos.
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Baseball Field maintenance - questions arose as to the cost of the high school baseball field maintenance when a significant decrease was anticipated.
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Cost of Village sponsored events at Founders Park were discussed. Vice Mayor Mahoney offered to help staff find ways to increase revenue for the events.
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Freebee revenue was not included in the budget and needs council action.
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