Cooper City adopts tentative FY2025–26 budget; managers outline line-item changes

The Cooper City Commission on Sept. 11 adopted a tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and reviewed staff-identified changes from the earlier draft. The commission approved the tentative budget by recorded vote after staff outlined adjustments to insurance savings, capital projects and contingency allocations.

City Manager Erwin and Finance Director Williams reviewed the revisions the staff made since the July budget submittal. Williams told the commission the budget requires an additional appropriation from the general fund balance of $154,005.85, most of which he said is tied to the creation of an Innovation and Community Engagement Department and the addition of $50,000 in overtime for HOA code enforcement.

Williams said changing the city’s group health plan from United to Florida Blue produced a $370,000 savings to the general fund; the same amount was placed into a contingency account and $250,000 of that contingency was earmarked for a new HRA account to cover potential out‑of‑network cost differentials. Williams explained that the $370,000 figure reflected the general‑fund portion only and that a larger total saving across all funds had appeared in earlier budget materials.

The manager summarized changes to capital funds: revenues for the Sterling Road project (Fund 300) were reduced by $323,000 to match construction cost estimates, triggering a larger transfer from the general fund for Fund 300; the Hiatus Row project cost projection was increased by $1,175,000 to a total of $1,650,000 and the budget added surtax grant revenue of $1,512,000 for that project; the headworks project was pushed into future years through 2028, spreading an originally shown $5,209,000 into later years. The manager said these fund‑300 projects are funded from the general fund and that changes to revenue estimates therefore affect the required transfer from the general fund.

On the fire assessment, the manager reported a reduction in the city’s fire consideration of $487,000; he said an accompanying revenue decrease left a net saving of $262,000, which was added to contingency so the overall general fund net change was zero.

Commissioners also discussed several operating and capital items: Rock Creek pool paver repairs are budgeted at $50,000 but two quotes received were substantially lower; commissioners agreed staff should obtain a third quote and select a vendor while ensuring repairs are durable. The commission also discussed volleyball‑court repairs and the city confirmed roughly $40,026 in capital funds would be available in the current fiscal year to address recreation‑facility needs.

Commissioner Katzmann questioned a roughly $1 million line item for public art in the five‑year capital plan; the manager said the public‑art amount was scheduled mostly in later years and could be adjusted, and commissioners signaled they would revisit priorities. By consensus the commission agreed to rename or reposition the public‑art line to reflect broader beautification or infrastructure uses pending further direction.

The commission approved a standalone motion to add $1,500 to the city’s EAB budget to be paid from contingency; the recorded votes on budget items and the EAB supplement were all affirmative. When conducting the final vote on the tentative budget resolution, the mayor called for the public‑hearing closure and the commission adopted the resolution on the record.

The manager said several contract items, including police/fire facility maintenance and police‑service language, will return on Sep. 25 for formal contract approvals. The tentative budget adoption will be followed by a second public hearing where the commission must adopt the final millage and budget.