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Dade City commissioners weigh $4.3 million municipal building plan and debate use of reserves
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Summary
Staff presented a $4.3 million concept for a new two‑story municipal building and proposed funding from building funds, Penny for Pasco, CRA and general reserves; commissioners raised concerns about committing undesignated reserves before final design and asked for more detailed capital planning.
City staff presented a concept and preliminary funding approach for a proposed new municipal building at 38052 Pasco Avenue, estimated at $4.3 million, and commissioners debated whether to commit specific funding sources before final design and cost certainty.
Community and economic development director Miss Ralston reviewed the design and a staffing‑based funding allocation: $1,477,000 in current building fund reserves, roughly $330,000 from projected future building permit revenues, about $222,000 from CRA allocations, $1,000,000 from Penny for Pasco, and approximately $1,300,000 from the general fund. Staff recommended finishing the first floor only and leaving the second floor unfinished to reduce upfront costs while providing room for future growth.
Commissioners emphasized fiscal prudence. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Woodard warned against using undesignated general‑fund reserves for non‑emergency capital projects and urged staff to strip “nice‑to‑have” features before committing reserves. “Reserves are supposed to protect the city against emergencies, economic downturn, storm recovery, infrastructure surprises,” Woodard said, arguing the commission should protect flexibility for unforeseen needs.
Finance Officer Mister Altman and the city attorney noted the proposal is a preliminary funding sketch and recommended more detailed capital improvement planning and legal review of possible CRA usage. Altman advised the commission to incorporate the project into the next year’s budget process and examine bridge‑financing options if needed.
Several commissioners said the building design meets current operational needs and provides room for near‑term hires and IT space, while others stressed the council should clarify which existing projects (Naomi Jones Park, 7th Street landscaping, spoke parking lot) could be affected if the funds are reallocated. Commissioners asked staff for one‑on‑one briefings on funding sources, existing encumbrances, and how the proposed allocations would affect other projects.
No final funding votes were taken; staff will return with more refined cost estimates, legal guidance on CRA uses, and a recommended capital‑budget approach.