HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 03 12 Report Letter Regarding Property Tax Reform
Date: March 12, 2007
The attached is a copy of what Commissioner
Rick Brown brought up under his "Report" at
the March 12, 2007 City Commission Regular
Meeting.
, '
Rick Brown
Winter Springs City Commissioner
District 2
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Mayor and Commission,
After 2 days in Tallahassee where we attended meetings with both the League of Cities and
the house subcommittee on taxes and finance who are considering the house bill related to the
property and sales tax changes being proposed in the legislature, I believe the situation presents
a significant fiscal shortfall to the city for 2007 and 2008 tax year and beyond.
The potential revenue crisis which could befall the city is of critical concern and as such I
believe we should begin taking action to build our reserves and prepare for potential drastic cuts
to our already fiscally conservative general fund.
In concert with the mayors foresight in setting up a citizens advisory council to review current
city spending and recommend reductions, I ask the commission to consider an immediate
moratorium on all non-essential expenditures for the months leading up to the special
election later this year until we have a clear understanding on the direction being taken by our
state.
These voluntary constraints should include salary adjustments, public events, charitable giving,
services expansion, services reduction where not life threatening, and the implementation of
additional budget oversight on ordinary expenditures.
These measures may seem extreme but in the face of a potential 40% cut to our general fund
as calculated by the league of cities and our finance department, we need to recognize the
potential extent of the crisis and prepare accordingly so we are not blindsided if the worst case
scenario happens. If anything less impact comes out of the next few months' deliberations, we
will emerge fiscally sound and prepared to resume normal governance.
As we enter the budget preparation process I believe we should work on 2 simultaneous plans;
one with the potential extent of the cuts in place, and one slightly less constraining but with an
eye that "some" cuts are coming this year and next.
I ask for a rapid response to the Mayor's Citizen's Advisory Committee formation request and
that we convene a special meeting in the next 2 weeks to bring the committee together, review
the possible extent of the budget cuts and let them begin the process.
R,~t BIWI~
City Commissioner - District 2
City of Winter Springs, Florida
Phone - 407-341-6025
Fax - 866-888-9941
rbrown@wintersprinqsfl.orq
www.rick-brown.com
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