St. Augustine finance director outlines revenue manual, recommends keeping millage at 7.5 and CPI-based fee increases

Melissa Burns, the city finance director, presented the City of St. Augustine's draft revenue manual and recommended keeping the proposed millage at 7.5 mills while pursuing modest, CPI-based increases for several fees and utility rates.

The manual breaks major revenue sources into general fund and proprietary (enterprise) funds and identifies recommended adjustments staff will bring forward during upcoming budget workshops. Burns said staff used the property appraiser's June 1 estimates and the July 1 actual taxable values to calculate revenue sensitivity to millage changes. "I'm here to present to you the revenue manual and gain your input and insight on the various recommendations outlined through this document," Burns said.

Why it matters: the revenue manual frames this year's budget choices and possible fee changes that affect utilities, parking, short-term rentals and other city revenues. The commission will consider the proposed millage and fee proposals in workshops Aug. 28 (and Aug. 29 if needed) and at a regular meeting where a resolution to set the proposed millage will be discussed.

Key recommendations and details

- Millage: Staff recommended that the proposed millage remain at 7.5…