The final budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which began Thursday, Oct. 1, was approved at the City Commission meeting Monday, Sept. 28. City commissioners have been working on the $66,312,812 budget during workshops this summer.
Key points in this year’s budget include the allocation of $175,000 for the city’s new Economic Development Corp. The ED
C, which will focus on business partnerships throughout the Plant City community, was made official in late September.
“That $175,000 for economic development is kind of a cornerstone in the budget,” City Manager Mike Herr said. “I think it’s a bold decision. The City Commission deserves a lot of credit.”
The budget also allocated $65,000 for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, which will be re-evaluated every fiscal year.
City Commissioner Mike Sparkman said that he does not support the funds that were allocated for the chamber. Sparkman first voiced his concerns with the City’s funding of the chamber when he asked to see how the chamber was allocating funds earmarked for economic development.
“I’ve done my homework, I know what I’m talking about,” Sparkman said. “I still feel an objection to the $65,000 going to the chamber of commerce.”
Even though he made his objections known at the Commission meeting, Sparkman did not make a motion against awarding the chamber its funding. He voted for approval of the final budget.
Mayor Rick Lott is pleased with the breakdown of the city’s dollars.
“I believe we have a budget that is maximizing every dollar available to the city,” Lott said. “We should have improvements throughout our city that citizens will be able to see and appreciate.”
With economic development as a driving force behind the city’s budget, improvements include a 7,000-square-foot fire station to accomodate growth in the northeast quadrant of the city. The construction of the station is scheduled to start in 2016. The Community Redevelopment Agency fund includes monies for parking on Collins Street and property acquisitions.
The total budget is a $139,411 decrease from the previous fiscal year, and retains the 4.7157 millage rate. The general fund has a $618,678 increase over the previous fiscal year, bringing the total amount in the general fund to $27,235,168. More of the City’s figures for the upcoming year can be found below.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.