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Riviera Beach council sets millage at 8.35 mills, advances city budget and five-year CIP on first reading
Summary
On first reading the council set a millage rate of 8.35 mills (6.53% above the rollback) and advanced the proposed FY2025-26 budget and the city's five-year capital improvements plan; council discussion focused on firefighter staffing, special-events funding and the new communications department.
The Riviera Beach City Council on Sept. 3 approved on first reading a package of fiscal measures that together shape next year's spending and capital program. The council: (1) set the millage rate at 8.35 mills for fiscal year 2025-26 (ordinance 42-86), (2) advanced the operating and enterprise budgets for FY2025-26 (ordinance 42-87) on first reading, and (3) adopted an updated five-year capital improvements plan (ordinance 42-88).
City Manager Jonathan Evans and Chief Financial Officer Randy Sherman presented the budget documents accompanied by detailed slides. Sherman said the published millage of 8.35 mills is 6.53% higher than the rollback rate of 7.8381 because assessed property values rose; "it is not that the rate went up, but it is the property value," Sherman said. The staff recommended approval of the 8.35 mills rate.
On the operating side, Sherman presented a $214 million total budget across all funds and explained major highlights: nine new firefighter positions added under the International Firefighters & Paramedics contract; salary increases for bargaining units (SEIU, PMSA and IFF) and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for non-represented employees; an increase in the community events line to $500,000; a $4.25 million transfer to capital projects; and a $9.4 million transfer to the CRA.
"We did add nine new firefighter positions, in accordance with the IFF contract," Sherman said. He also noted higher insurance costs and funding for dune restoration consistent with the county contract. The budget creates a new communications and marketing department with five positions, moves a webmaster post from IT and budgets $100,000 for professional/contract services.
Council debate focused on special-events funding and how the city will use the new $500,000 line to support recurring signature events and sponsorships. Councilperson Bruce Guyton asked whether the city had cost estimates from promoters; staff said the allocation was conservative and that staff would return with an event calendar, sponsorship policy and additional detail before final adoption. "We are gonna standardize a lot of that so there's consistency and uniformity," Evans said of marketing and sponsorships.
On enterprise issues, the Utility District budget reflects rate increases tied to construction of the new water treatment plant; Sherman noted the USD five-year program and the plant cost estimate included in the CIP. The marina operating budget increases to account for potential mooring fields; Sherman said the budget conservatively assumes about six months of mooring revenue pending lease approvals and permitting.
Council members also pressed staff about employee pay and recommended the city produce a brief scenario analysis showing the budgetary impact of a 4%, 5% or 6% COLA for employees; Sherman said each additional percentage point above the proposed 3% was roughly a $100,000 change to the fiscal picture and that staff would run precise numbers.
The council voted, by roll call, to approve the ordinances on first reading; votes were recorded as unanimous for the items presented on Sept. 3. Final adoption and second readings are scheduled at the statutory public hearing dates later in September.
Ending: Staff said it will return with more detail on the event plan, sponsorship policy, stormwater options and any requested budget adjustments before the second readings and final adoption.
