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Fort Meade commission reviews proposed budget, agrees to raise monthly pay for mayor and commissioners
Summary
At an Aug. 19 budget workshop, Fort Meade officials reviewed wages, benefits and operating budgets. Finance staff said health insurance costs rose about 9%; the commission reached consensus to raise commissioners’ pay to $650 and the mayor’s to $700 per month.
The Fort Meade City Commission reviewed a proposed operating and capital budget Monday and reached consensus to increase monthly compensation to $650 for commissioners and $700 for the mayor, officials said.
Finance Assistant Kelsey Kikta told commissioners that health insurance costs are up about 9% and the increase was split between the city and employees. She said the proposed budget assumes an 8.5000 millage rate and includes a $1.00 cost‑of‑living adjustment and a 3% merit raise for both non‑exempt and exempt employees, subject to final approval.
The budget workshop functioned as a line‑by‑line review of general fund expenditures and the Capital Improvement Program. City Manager Edward Dean said he has consolidated some department duties as part of “tightening the belt” to help balance the budget. Dean also described several staffing realignments included in the spending plan.
Those realignments include assigning Veronica Hairston to oversee a consolidated chief operations/human resources function and moving HR Director George McNerney into a combined Code Enforcement and Risk Management role, City Manager Dean said. Planning fund items remain unchanged and include line items for the Central Florida Regional Planning Council and Retail Strategies, Dean added.
Public Works Director Jackie Cannon said the stormwater fund’s largest planned project is work tied to a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant; no changes were requested to stormwater line items. Fire Chief Matthew Zahara reviewed the fire fund and said the department had no additional budget requests.
Commissioners debated an increase to commission compensation with differing views: Vice Mayor Samuel Berrien said the adjustment would help recruit younger talent, while Commissioner Jaret Williams urged prioritizing resident hardship assistance and suggested a town‑hall on grants. “This would be another tool to recruit young talent,” Vice Mayor Berrien said in support of the raise. After discussion, the commission reached consensus on the new compensation amounts.
The meeting also included a discussion about relying on sponsorships to cover the costs of fireworks and a recommendation to convert previously earmarked Community Health Care reimbursement funds into a city‑run scholarship instead of an outside scholarship. Attorney Powell said a meeting has been requested with the Lanier project’s surety bonding company and the contractor regarding ongoing project issues.
Vice Mayor Berrien asked that the Youth Council be restored to the budget, and Commissioner Williams requested staff explore programs to save residents money. The workshop concluded with a motion by Commissioner James Watts, seconded by Commissioner James Possum Schaill, to adjourn at 5:30 p.m.; the motion passed by a unanimous 5–0 vote.
