Pahokee commission reviews FY2024–25 budget, flags cash‑flow squeeze tied to reimbursements and audits

Pahokee’s city commission on Aug. 27 reviewed a proposed FY2024–25 budget that keeps the millage largely unchanged and prioritized capital projects while warning of a short‑term cash‑flow strain tied to delayed state reimbursements.

City Manager Mr Jackson led the budget discussion at an evening workshop, telling commissioners the city will hold the first public hearing on the tentative millage and budget on Sept. 11 and the second and final hearing on Sept. 24. “There’s no change in the millage,” Mr Jackson said as he walked the commission through fund allocations and proposed spending priorities.

The packet presented general fund as the largest share of the budget (roughly 61% of total), with capital projects, special revenue, a small endowment line and a marina/campground fund that the manager said currently represents about 4% of spending. Mr Jackson said he will press to grow marina and campground revenue through repairs, new programming and grant opportunities so those operations can contribute more to economic development.

Finance Director Joseph Martin, presenting the third‑quarter snapshot through June 30, said the city’s revenues were at roughly 57% of budgeted expectations at that point and that C‑tax receipts for FY2023–24 were stated in the packet as $480,000, with "35378" received as of June (noted in the meeting as 74% of the expected total; staff said they would provide the exact figure). “Most departments are under the 75% spending benchmark,” Martin said, but he warned that the city faces a cash‑flow concern because many capital projects are reimbursable and those reimbursements have been delayed.

Officials attributed the reimbursement delays to actions by the state’s oversight process after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) raised concerns about late or incomplete audits. The manager and finance director said the city has completed two audits in six months and planned a third audit so JLAC holds can be lifted and reimbursements restored. “We’ve completed two audits in six months and we’re on schedule…we should see these issues behind us,” Mr Jackson said.

Commissioners approved several administrative items related to financial controls and oversight during the meeting. The commission voted unanimously to accept a proposal for external auditing services and authorized the city manager to negotiate final compensation with the selected firm; a separate unanimous vote approved a change order for the Barfield Highway reconstruction project that will be reimbursed by funders.

Beyond audits and reimbursements, the budget discussion included detail on personnel (the city is budgeting 45 full‑time equivalent positions), departmental operating costs and several capital priorities such as sidewalk work, MLK Park improvements, entryway signage and ongoing work at the marina and campground. Mr Jackson described a phased plan to repair 16–18 campground sites quickly with modest funds and outlined options for enhanced security, LED lighting and potential sheriff’s department support for after‑hours enforcement.

What’s next: the commission will hear the first public budget hearing Sept. 11, take public comment and is scheduled to adopt the budget at the Sept. 24 hearing unless further changes are needed.

Votes at a glance: the commission passed multiple housekeeping resolutions related to audits, contracts and project change orders by unanimous roll call during the meeting.