The City of Dade City has finalized and adopted its fiscal year 2021-2022 budget — with the price tag coming in at nearly $25 million.
The figure represents an increase of about $7.25 million — or nearly 41% — from this past year’s budget.
The Dade City Commission unanimously approved the second, and final, reading of the new budget, during its Sept. 27 meeting at City Hall.
No residents spoke about the budget during the public hearing.
The fiscal year commences Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2022.
Slightly more than $1.74 million of the budgetary increase is due to a change in budgeting special revenue and impact fee funds, according to the city’s final operating budget book and other documents.
In prior years, impact fee revenues were minor, due to limited growth in the city; beginning with fiscal year 2022, all impact fees funds will be included in the budget.
Also, in prior years, the local option gas tax was treated as a special revenue fund; now, this activity will be included in the general fund.
Capital outlay and debt service represent the largest chunk of the 2021-2022 budget, anticipated to total $13.74 million (55% of the total budget) and up about $5.92 million from this past fiscal year.
Major capital projects include construction of the Dade Oaks retention pond, Howard Avenue stormwater improvements, Tank Hill well and booster station, Morningside Drive extension, wastewater force main and lift station projects, and sidewalk/road improvements.
Personnel costs are expected to be roughly $6.43 million, or nearly 26% of the total budget, and an increase of $626,446 from the last budget.
The increase in personnel costs is a result of:
- Funding new positions
- Increased health care premiums
- The adoption of a new pay scale and associated increases
- A 3% salary adjustment for individuals not affected by the new pay scale
- Increased wages and benefits through the negotiation of the police union contracts, and associated retirement costs.
Lastly, operating costs came in at $4.73 million — up about $706,000 from this past year’s budget. They represent about 19% of the latest budget.
Changes in operating costs include:
- Funding for a comprehensive plan update
- Development of a disaster recovery plan
- Additional IT security costs
- Election year costs
- Increases in solid waste collections and utilities
- Additional funding of the city’s utility renewal and replacement fund, as per recommendations from a rate study
The 2021-2022 fiscal year budget is based, in part, on a 7.14 millage rate, assessed on taxable value of property within the city.
The city’s certified taxable value is about $340 million.
At the rate of 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund are anticipated to levy an estimated $2.3 million, an increase of slightly more than $262,000 from the prior year’s $2 million for general fund expenses.
The breakdown of ad valorem revenues comes from the assessed value of the city’s 1,857 single-family homes, of which 1,231 have at least one exemption, according to city records.
Commissioners held eight budget workshops between June, July, August and September to hammer out myriad details and considerations.
Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez thanked city administration and staff for “lots of hard work” during the budgetary planning process.
“A lot of things on the table,” Hernandez said of the latest budget. “Hopefully, we are bringing Dade City forward with some additions we’ve made, and certainly some adjustments we’ve made with salaries and staff, and all that…and hopefully only great things ahead.”
Dade City Manager Leslie Porter summarized the city’s financial picture in the finalized 87-page budget book.
Her statement in the budget book reads, “This budget will enable Dade City to begin the path to grow with the demands for services while protecting our thriving and safe community that cherishes its location, unites in its diversity and evolves to meet the continuous challenges that success brings.”
City of Dade City fiscal year 2021-2022 budget: Total: $24,961,790
Expenses by category
- Capital outlay and debt service ($13,744, 893)
- Personnel costs ($6,433,788)
- Operating costs ($4,783,109)
Published October 06, 2021
