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Council members press staff on PIO hiring, deputy clerk pay and reserve levels; a trust dispute surfaces
Summary
During the FY26 budget workshop, council members questioned proposed in-house PIO costs, the $80,000 deputy city clerk burden, and large unassigned reserves; a council member raised concerns that an earlier remark about 'quitting' over a permanent city manager hire damaged staff trust, prompting an apology.
Council members used the July 8 budget workshop to press staff on personnel costs, reserve levels and governance practices. Multiple council members questioned converting a contracted public information officer to an in-house position after staff said the total burden for the new in-house PIO would be about $96,000 (wages-only ~$63,000). "Wages only is 63,000," a speaker noted, and Bass confirmed that including benefits the total burden would be roughly $96,000.
Council members also asked about a proposed deputy city clerk position budgeted as an $80,000 total burden and whether the city would recruit someone already certified or promote from within; staff said the deputy would report to the city manager and that internal promotion (Monique) was planned where possible. On legal services, staff said the legal budget was increased to account for more development-related reviews and that a formal solicitation had not occurred in recent years.
Several council members expressed concern about reserve levels. One council member noted the city is "sitting on an extra 4,300,000" over charter minimums and urged caution about raising millage or adding costs while reserves remain. Finance Director Bass defended reserve planning, saying some carry is necessary to cash-flow grant-funded projects and to prepare for unexpected events such as hurricanes or changes in state funding policy.
Public-safety and equipment questions included purchases funded by impact fees and special-law-enforcement trust funds: staff confirmed police impact fees are restricted to new and expanded services (so replacements do not qualify), and the special law-enforcement trust fund (~$50,478) was proposed for a new K9 and equipment; police operations said a new K9 handler would be added.
The workshop also recorded a brief but notable governance exchange: a council member raised concerns that comments made at a prior council meeting—reported as an assertion that a council member would "quit" if interim City Manager Joe Mahoney were made permanent—had eroded staff trust. The council member named the prior speaker (Eric Greenberg) and said residents heard the remark; the speaker who had been referenced apologized in the workshop, saying the comment was inappropriate.
The session closed with council members urging private resolution of personal matters where appropriate and reaffirming a goal of working together; no formal disciplinary or personnel actions were taken at the workshop.
