The numbers are in for the City of Zephyrhills’ budget — and this year’s total represents a 33% increase over last year.
The Zephyrhills City Council approved the city’s budget on Sept. 26. The budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 is slightly more than $100 million.
This is the fourth time in the past five budgets that the city increased its planned spending — and it marks the largest increase.
In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the city budget increased 24.5%, for a total of $75.3 million.
This year’s budget is based on a millage rate of 6.25 mills, which will generate $6,591,549 in ad valorem taxes. The city’s total property valuation is $1,110,155,587.
Last year, the valuation was $946,676,382, generating $5,710,825 in ad valorem tax revenues.
This fiscal year’s total expenditures are expected to be $100,621,184.
Budget particulars are detailed in a 54-page book.
Here’s a look at how spending breaks down:
- General fund: $16,391,197
- Special revenue fund: $32,739,894
- Community Redevelopment Agency fund: $1,380,771
- Impact fee fund: $3,037,407
- Utility impact fee fund: $5,841,000
- Utility fund: $30,027,676
- Airport fund: $8,963,569
- Sanitation fund: $2,239,670
Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe presented some budget highlights to council members. Those included:
- Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center multipurpose indoor facility: $7,080,672, funded entirely by the state
- Hercules Park Construction: $4,410,000, funded by Penny For Pasco and the American Rescue Plan Act
- South Avenue Extension relating to National Guard: $1,940,000, funded entirely by the state
- Sidewalks: $1.4 million, funded by Penny For Pasco
- Eiland Boulevard/Simons Road intersection: $800,000, funded by transportation impact fees
- Annual road resurfacing: $600,000, funded by gas tax
- County Road 54, east of Hercules: $581,907, funded by Penny For Pasco
- Stormwater Design Phase: $500,000, funded by Penny For Pasco
- Zephyr Park Surveying: $400,00, funded by Penny For Pasco
- Gateway Project: $350,000, funded by transportation impact fees
- Park improvements: $300,00, funded with General Fund revenues
- Design of City Yard: $200,000, funded by Penny For Pasco
- Fuel tank upgrade: $150,000, funded by Penny For Pasco
The new budget calls for additional personnel, including four police officers, an administrative assistant, a code support specialist, a parks maintenance worker, an equipment operator and adding two employees to the High School Student Work Program.
City Council member salaries also will be getting an increase of $100 a month, taking effect at each election for the new elected Council member.
The budget includes a pay increase of 6% for employees and 41 cents to work toward the $15 minimum wage increase.
The budget includes $367,454 for the Zephyrhills Police Department to pay for renovation of an old ambulance, a camera system for command unit, stadium/portable lights and a dispatch consolidation project.
Also, $558,000 in Penny for Pasco funds has been allocated to purchase nine new SUV vehicles.
The streets department has budgeted $70,000 for an asphalt roller and trailer, and $600,000 for resurfacing, which will be paid for through gas taxes. It also has allocated $250,000 for a chipper truck, which will be paid for with Penny for Pasco funds.
The Sanitation Department will spend $535,000 on a new front load garbage truck, Curotto Can cart lift, cart tipper, automated truck arm, and the painting of two garbage trucks.
Parks will spend $93,000 for a zero-turn mower, two lawn trailers and a large area turf mower, paid for with gas tax proceeds, and $150,000 for playground equipment, paid for with park impact fees.
Additionally, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport received a 100% state appropriation for $6.6 million for new Terminal/Box Hangars/Taxiway and $390,000 for existing Runway 1-19 rehabilitation.
The city’s General Fund revenue sources include franchise fees, utility taxes, communication taxes, licenses and permits, state grants, state revenue sources, county shared funds (occupational licenses), building fees, other services fees, fines and forfeitures, interest income, miscellaneous fees and services, and interfund transfers.
Published October 12, 2022
