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Fort Meade reviews draft budget; ADA fixes, museum insurance and streets needs highlighted
Summary
City officials reviewed the General Fund and CIP during an Aug. 21 budget workshop, identifying ADA compliance needs, a museum request for help with high insurance costs, and streets requirements tied to Florida Department of Transportation rules; no budget changes were adopted.
The Fort Meade City Commission reviewed the draft General Fund operating budget and Capital Improvement Program at a budget workshop on Aug. 21, 2024, noting several operational and programmatic concerns but making no changes to line items.
Finance Assistant Kelsey Kikta told commissioners there were no requested changes to the Accounting line items or to the Office at 199 Edgewood. City Manager Edward Dean flagged outstanding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues that will require attention and potential funding in a future revision to the budget.
Public Works Director Jackie Cannon summarized Support and Streets fund lines and explained employee allocation splits in the Streets department after Mayor Petrina McCutchen asked for clarification. Cannon said the Florida Department of Transportation requires message boards for any road closures tied to special events; McCutchen suggested the city pursue in-kind support from Polk County Sheriff’s Office or Polk County Parks and Recreation to reduce costs.
During the museum budget review, Priscella Perry of the FM Historical Society asked the city to help with insurance for the museum train, saying the premium "is very high." City staff recorded the request; no insurance or budget action was taken at the workshop.
City Manager Edward Dean also said he will request a written white paper from each outside agency seeking city funds — Help of Fort Meade, Fort Meade Chamber and Fort Meade Main Street — to standardize future funding decisions. The workshop concluded with no changes to the reviewed line items and a motion to adjourn passed 5-0.
The commission’s next steps will be to collect the outside agencies’ white papers, have staff further scope ADA needs, and return with any recommended budget amendments at a later meeting.
