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Date: 06032004
The following Document was distributed during
the 06/03/2004 Workshop City Commission
Meeting by Ron McLemore
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FY05
BUDGET ISSUES.
INCREASED LEGAL FEES
ISSUE
Does the City Commission support increasing fees for legal services with the City's
current law firm?
DISCUSSION
On October 1, 1999 the City entered into an agreement with Anthony Garganese with the
law firm of Brown, Salzman, Weiss and Garganese to provide legal services for the City.
The fee structure for this agreement was $110 per billable hour plus out of pocket
expenses. The City Attorney has requested an amendment of the rate to be more
reflective of the marketplace and to offset their increases in cost. The average consulting
service fee in the area is $150 per hour. Fees in Seminole County per hour are as
follows:
Altamonte Springs $175
Sanford $150
Oviedo $150
Lake Mary $150
Casselberry $150
Winter Springs $110
Longwood - not on an hourly basis
FISCAL IMPACT
Based upon prior years expenses and the current year projections, we could expect the
average expenses per year to be in the neighborhood of$230,000 per year.
FYOO
$166,900
FYOl
FY02
FY03
FY04
$250,179
$300,621
$224,317
$225,000
Based upon FY04 expenses and an increase in rates from $110 to $150 per hour we could
expect FY05 to increase as follows:
$1101hr
FY04
$140/hr
FY05
$145/hr
$150/hr
$225,000
$286,000
$297,000
$307,000
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On a fund allocation basis we believe a $150 per hour rate would impact the various
funds as follows:
$110/hr
FY04
General Fund
Utility Fund
Development Services Fund
Solid Waste Fund
Other Funds
$150,000
30,000
15,000
10,000
20,000
'$225,000
RECOMMENDATION
$150/hr
FY05
$205,000
40,000
20,000
15,000
27,000
$307,000
Based upon the fact that the City Attorney has been at the same rate for 5 years, the
market place, and the quality of work provided by the City Attorney it is recommended
that the attorney's hourly rate by increased from $110 to $150 per hour.