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Sunny Isles Beach adopts FY2024–25 operating and capital budget, 4–1
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Summary
The City Commission adopted the FY2024–25 operating and capital improvement budget on second/final reading by a 4–1 vote. Commissioners raised concerns about a $3,000,000 design allocation for a Heritage Park project but approved funding and several staffing and infrastructure priorities.
The City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach adopted an ordinance on second and final reading approving the operating and capital improvement budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2024, and ending Sept. 30, 2025.
City staff presented the ordinance and cited section 200.65 of the Florida Statutes in describing the statutory basis for adopting the annual budget. No members of the public spoke on the item.
During discussion, one commissioner said they opposed a planned building at Heritage Park and other items they believed inflated the budget, but said they supported the cost-of-living adjustment. "I'm against the building at Heritage Park ... but I am for the COLA," the commissioner said.
Another commissioner praised the finance department’s work on the budget book and raised specific concerns about overspending in the building department and an allocation of $3,000,000 for design of the Heritage Park project. That commissioner said they supported adding a police lieutenant position, more electric-vehicle charging stations, expanded shuttle service and consideration of the William Lehman Causeway park project.
A motion to adopt the budget ordinance was made and seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Joseph — yes; Commissioner Stuyvesant — no; Commissioner Viscara — yes; Vice Mayor Lamma — yes; Mayor Svachin — yes. The presiding officer announced, "The ordinance is adopted 4 to 1." The budget will take effect for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2024.
Commissioners who raised concerns did not prevent passage; the discussion identified a set of items (Heritage Park design allocation, building department spending) that commissioners may revisit in future meetings.
