Orlando City Commissioners OK’d the proposed $1.54 billion budget for next year and signed off on keeping the property-tax rate at the same figure for the ninth straight year.
Both votes came just after 5 p.m. Monday, and commissioners will vote on them again on Sept. 26 to formally approve the budget.
The proposal sets the tax rate at 6.65 mills — which means property owners will pay $6.65 per $1,000 in taxable value, netting the city about $287 million in revenue used to cover city services including police, fire and solid waste. At that rate, the city is expected to collect about 8.6% more than last year.
Prior to voting, city commissioner Jim Gray cautioned that “economic headwinds” bear watching heading into the next fiscal year, and urged the council to develop a strategy to better recruit and retain employees. He said about 500 positions are open at the city across departments from public safety, public works and code enforcement.
“I know things are expensive… but if we don’t match the market, those employees go elsewhere,” Gray said, worried that service quality could suffer. “It’s not because we don’t have good people, it’s because we don’t have enough people.”
Mayor Buddy Dyer agreed, noting the city is negotiating with unions representing a majority of its workforce for new collective bargaining agreements. New deals will likely include higher wage increases than past collective bargaining agreements to keep up with the private sector and other local governments, he said.
“I think you will see… that it will be suggested to this council higher increases than we’ve done in the past,” Dyer said.
While city officials were expected to vote on final approval for its new rules on nightlife, including new restrictions on downtown private parking lots and noise, that vote was delayed until later this month.
The rules require private parking lot operators to have security and be staffed as long as vehicles are parked on-site. It also requires new businesses operating after midnight to get a special-use permit with the city.
Dyer directed staff to clarify in the ordinance that a special-use permit would be issued if a business underwent a “substantial improvement” to its space. A final vote is scheduled for Sept. 26.
rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
