Biscayne Park adopts 2025–26 budget, sets millage at 9.3 mills and earmarks $37,500 for legal services review

The Village Commission of the Village of Biscayne Park adopted its fiscal 2025–26 budget and a final millage rate of 9.3 mills during a second public hearing on Sept. 24, 2025, approving both ordinances on second reading by a 5–0 roll-call vote.

The budget reduces the advertised millage from the preliminary 9.4 mills to 9.3 mills while retaining language in the required public notice that shows the change as an increase relative to the rollback rate. "The rules requiring how you present the advertisement is based on the millage rate that you set in July... You've gone down from 9.4 to 9.3, so that's a reduction, but you still have that increase of 10%," Finance Director Paul said, explaining why the ad appears as an increase even though the commission lowered the rate.

Manager Al summarized the package as a mix of expense reductions and targeted investments. "We lowered the millage from 9.4 to 9.3. The goal is to increase our emergency reserves, presently from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000," he said, and listed staff pay adjustments (a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a 2% merit increase for non‑bargaining employees, step increases for officers) and $2,400,000 identified for major capital projects including log cabin roof and IT upgrades, two stormwater projects and parking phase 1.

Commissioners spent significant time on the administration’s professional-services line after the village’s outside law firm revised its request. Brad told the commission the firm has reduced its ask to $37,500. Commissioners agreed to earmark that amount in the administration budget now — reducing reserves proportionally as recommended by the finance director — while directing the manager to return with 3–5 firm names and resumes for a contracting decision at the October meeting. "I'll try to bring back 3 to 5 names for you on the October agenda," the manager said.

The commission also discussed code and public‑works staffing, drainage funding and grant status. Manager Al said the village secured a little over $400,000 in state appropriations for the next phase of its drainage program, matched with village funds and ARPA, and that contract awards for that phase are likely in November or December. On capital grants, officials described a $25,000 village match for a Safe Streets for All initiative intended to leverage approximately $100,000 in outside funding for a traffic study and possible improvements.

Public speakers urged the commission to move more quickly on some donations and local services. Resident Barbara Kuehl said the North Miami Foundation had "lost a lot of its funding" and lacked money for Meals on Wheels and van repairs, asking the village to contact the foundation and consider releasing allocated funds sooner.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025‑01 (final millage rate at 9.3 mills) — Approved, roll-call vote 5–0. Ordinance 2025‑02 (annual budget for 2025–26) — Approved as amended, second reading, roll-call vote 5–0.

What’s next: The manager will present candidate firms and resumes related to the attorney line item at the October meeting and will update the commission as drainage project paperwork and grant administration progress. The commission also signaled it will return to finalize contractual decisions once comparables are reviewed.

Approval details and formal roll calls were recorded by the clerk during the meeting.