The Final Budget Hearing agenda was made available to the public Friday afternoon Sep 25.  

While a few changes were made to the annual budget since Public Hearing #1 on Sep 10, the recommended millage rate of 2.7231 was not changed in the agenda, for Hearing #2. That put the millage rate at 9.9998% above the rollback rate of 2.4756, the millage rate that generates the same total revenue as it did the year before.  

The taxable value of real estate in the Village increased by approximately $491 million in the last year.

In an election year move that seemed to surprise the finance department staff, the Council voted unanimously to reduce the millage rate from the recommended 2.7231 mills to 2.65 mills, a 7.0448% tax increase instead of 10%.  

Then the Council had to approve a budget that matched the amended millage.  The Finance Director put a budget up on the screen in the meeting room and the council then voted 5-0 to approve a budget they could barely see and had no time to contemplate, knowing it could be modified/corrected at any time.

Sue Miller, representing the Islamorada Community Alliance, did point out numerous obvious changes that would significantly reduce the new budget shortfall.  Hopefully they will be incorporated in a budget amendment.  

What a budget season it was in Islamorada.  Hopefully one that will never be repeated.

How did the local governments do in Monroe County in a year in which the State of Florida pushed for tax reductions?

Key West            rollback, no tax increase

Marathon            5.2%  increase

Layton                 6.9% increase

Monroe County   7.45% increase

Islamorada          7.0448% increase

The Presentation of the Plan: Wednesday Sep 30 at 5:30 PM, Community Center Founders Park.  

Municipalities develop comprehensive plans, tailored to local needs that also comply with state-mandated requirements. The process requires meaningful public participation, ensuring residents, business owners and stakeholders have a voice in shaping their community’s future.

The draft of the new plan is available on the Village website: click here.

FKAA Publishes Rate Increase Notice in September water bills: Islamorada is proposing a 6.0% increase that will apply to the monthly Base Facility Charge, Volume Charge rates and Customer charge for wastewater charges that are on the FKAA water bills. There will be a public hearing at the Oct 8th, Council meeting.

The new monthly proposed wastewater rates listed on September FKAA bills: NPK (North Plantation Key: Base Charge - $31.84, Flow Charge - $6.91 /1000 Gal  Customer Charge - $11.19 RSA (Remaining Service Area: Base Charge - $42.83, Flow Charge - $6.91 /1000 Gal  Customer Charge - $11.19 For a single home, the typical increase is expected to be $4 - $5 per month. With approximately 5200 separate FKAA accounts and 8500 EDUs in the Village, this “small” 6% increase will be quite significant in total.  Currently the FKAA collects approximately $7 million for the Village in wastewater charges annually.  The 6% increase should add nearly $400,000 in income for the Wastewater Fund.

Don’t Miss It! Click here The Key Player’s Musical at Coral Shores auditorium: It's heartfelt, honest, funny, and deeply moving. Come experience the story that reminds us that no one should feel alone! October 1, 2 & 3 at 7:30pm October 4 at 2pm

Islamorada should follow the Key West effort to see if we can tag along in finding ways to reduce the impact of the sargassum weed in coming years.  

Sargassum workshop in Key West: Click here for article by Ted Lund, Above the Fold

 

Benihana is coming to Island Grill!  Benihana will have five hibachi tables inside the current air-conditioned dining room and will operate as a completely separate restaurant from Island Grill on the covered waterfront deck and beach.

MM74: Culvert Project Major Canal Restoration Glitch Update from last week… now we hear that the project to connect ocean and bay waterways via a culvert under U.S. One may not be aborted as we reported last week. Both the Village and the contractor, LPS, are apparently hopeful a solution can be reached.

Quote of the week: