Town of Miami Lakes is proposing the same rate for property taxes for the sixth consecutive year but more than $1 million for municipal services might go unfunded unless the town can find the money elsewhere or cut other services depending on what’s important to lawmakers and residents.
According to a budget overview with preliminary figures for Miami Lakes’ spending plan for 2016-2017, $1.8 million of services were included in the spending plan but without any funding, including $500,000 for litigation services, $292,670 for two additional police officers, $85,000 for removal and replacement of black olive trees and $35,000 for youth and senior citizens programs.
The budget overview doesn’t specify the cause for the lack of funding but Miami Lakes’ economic future has been cloudy since Mayor Michael Pizzi filed two lawsuits against the town for his attorney fees from his reinstatement case ($460,000) and public corruption trial ($2.5 million).
The town is spending money to fight the corruption trial lawsuit and its own litigation against the insurance carrier which refused to pay the mayor’s legal bills.
In June, Councilmember Frank Mingo said $2.5 million constitutes 15 percent of the town’s budget.
Town Manager Alex Rey and his staff have proposed to keep the 2.3518 rate for property taxes that would generate $6.3 million, which is an increase from $5.9 million for last year.
Miami Lakes, which has $15.7 million in general fund revenues, is focusing on beautification and plans to spend at least $822,000 on projects for the N.W. 154 Street corridor, N.W. 67 Avenue and 138 Street, N.W. 67 Avenue at the Palmetto Expressway, N.W. 87 Avenue and 138 Street, the West Lake Neighborhood Reforestation Program, and beautification for N.W. 87 Avenue and 170 Street.
The town’s biggest expense, the police department, increased by $391,100 for a total of about $7.3 million for patrol and specialized services and community outreach programs.
The increase was caused by a four percent hike for Cost of Living Adjustments and a spike in health insurance and overtime pay.
The town is receiving $2.4 million as part of its share for the half cent sales tax for transportation upgrades throughout the town, $2.6 million from the building department, $1.3 million in communications service tax and $825,000 for state revenue sharing.
Miami Lakes held a budget workshop to discuss budgets for the town’s committees and review the Strategic Plan requests last week.
The Cultural Affairs Committee requested $39,000 but settled for $47,600 for events such as Concert on the Fairway ($10,500) and Fourth of July Concert, ($11,500). (CHECK THESE NUMBERS.)
The Youth Activities Task Force settled for $37,000 after requesting $41,000 for Movies at the Park ($14,000), a decrease from the $21,000 the group was hoping for and $7,350 for the Halloween event. The group initially asked for $8,500 for the Halloween extravaganza.
The Economic Development Committee requested $22,000 for marketing tools, the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce Expo and a trade show.
Miami Lakes granted the Education Advisory Committee request for $58,300 for Advanced Placement Language Arts Program ($26,000) and STEM Elective Course offered at Bob Graham Education Center and Miami Lakes K-8 Center ($17,000).
The Elderly Affairs Committee was also granted its request for $36,000 for Senior Socials ($19,000), senior trips which include Miami Marlins home games ($4,500), and Meet and Eat ($4,000).
The Neighborhood Improvement Committee was granted $2,650 for its budget for an anti-litter campaign ($1,500) and Lake Testing ($850).
The Public Safety Committee’s budget of $2,000 includes a police appreciation event ($1,000), and the Veterans Committee’s $2,000 expenses include care packages for troops stationed overseas ($500) and tree dedication service for military veterans ($500).
Miami Lakes’ next budget workshop is scheduled for Monday, August 15 at 5:30 p.m.
The town’s first budget hearing is set for Tuesday, September 6 at 5:01 p.m., and the second budget hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 20 at 6 p.m.