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Aventura adopts year-end budget amendment, transfers $2 million to ACES; police, parks costs cited
Summary
The Aventura City Commission unanimously adopted a fiscal year 2023–24 year-end budget amendment that includes a $2 million transfer to ACES, about $1 million in police-related increases and capital work at Founders Park, officials said.
The Aventura City Commission on Jan. 14 adopted a year-end amendment to the fiscal 2023–24 operating and capital budget, approving revenue-backed increases for police pension and overtime costs, capital improvements at Founders Park and expanded community-services programming.
City Manager: This is our year-end budget amendment that we are required to do for our financial policies and auditing requirements. The amendment, the manager said during the meeting, covers projects funded by additional revenues received during the fiscal year or by state and federal grants.
Why it matters: The amendment adjusts city accounting for costs the city said it already has incurred and for planned capital work. The changes commit the city to a $2,000,000 transfer to ACES to eliminate a fund-balance deficit, address a police pension issue affecting 14 officers, and increase capital spending and program budgets that officials said are covered by reimbursements and grants.
The amendment authorizes a $2,000,000 transfer to ACES to eliminate that entity’s fund balance deficit, the manager said, and added that the city expects full reimbursement of those monies in 2025. The manager also reported that the city has received $890,000 in reimbursement so far from the county.
City Manager: The police department budget increased by just over $1,000,000. The majority of which was to resolve the police pension issue involving 14 officers, the pension board, and the police union, the manager said, adding that overtime also rose after a significant flooding event earlier in the year.
The amendment increases capital expenses for Founders Park; the manager listed playground resurfacing, new basketball courts, field-turf enhancements, lighting and new pickleball courts as the major items. Officials said additional federal and state grants and other miscellaneous revenues will cover those overages.
Community services line items were also adjusted. The manager said higher enrollment in after-school care, dance programs, tennis, soccer and summer care required budget increases that are offset by corresponding program revenues.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the ordinance amending ordinance 2023-17 to revise the 2023–24 operating and capital budgets. The roll call recorded unanimous approval by Commissioners Orlinski, Hain, Blachman, Bloom, Cruz, Vice Mayor Friedland and Mayor Howard Weinberg.
Next steps: Officials said reimbursements remain in process and that the city expects to receive the remaining funds in 2025; no additional action was specified at the meeting.
