Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Bay Village approves proposed millage, adopts tentative $2025-26 budget after debate over staff COLA
Summary
The North Bay Village Commission unanimously approved a proposed millage of 5.7062 mills and adopted a tentative budget after hearing a manager presentation that listed roughly $1.6 million in reductions; commissioners directed staff to explore restoring employee cost-of-living adjustments.
At a Sept. 2025 commission meeting, Mayor Rachel Streitfeld and the North Bay Village Commission voted unanimously to approve a proposed millage of 5.7062 mills and adopted the tentative general fund and capital outlay budget for fiscal year 2025–26.
The clerk read the millage resolution into the record as 5.7062 mills, described in the materials as 13.12% higher than the rollback rate of 5.0445 mills. After a motion, a second and a roll-call vote the clerk announced the decision as unanimous.
Village manager Frank presented the administration's revised budget and said staff had worked to reduce spending without drawing on reserves. Frank listed line-item reductions and reorganizations, including cuts to human resources ($47,425), conferences and memberships ($29,125), professional and contractual services ($31,000), operating supplies ($79,130), consolidation of the legislative aide with the manager's executive assistant (savings reported as $91,770), elimination of a controller position ($76,258) and reduced interfund transfers ($649,782). He also described changes to insurance stipends and freezes on cost-of-living or merit increases for the coming year.
"I'll present to you a balanced budget without going into reserves to fund anything," Frank said. He told the commission the total financial reductions since the last workshop amount to roughly $1.6 million.
Commissioners praised staff for the work and acknowledged the cuts were painful. Several members pushed to restore cost-of-living adjustments for employees; the mayor and others proposed finding offsets by trimming travel and events budgets or tapping an available surplus. Mayor Rachel Streitfeld said, "We are now in a healthy financial position," and called for staff to return with options to restore COLA.
Public commenters asked for context on the reductions and for clarification about apparent increases in the police budget. Resident Javier Perez said he calculated the reduction as about 14% compared with the prior year; manager Frank confirmed substantial cuts but said the increase in the police line is largely personnel-related and intended to retain certified officers. Frank also noted that forfeiture funds helped reduce pressure on the general fund.
After discussion and a direction to staff to explore options for restoring COLA, the commission moved, seconded and approved the tentative budget as amended. The clerk called the roll and announced the motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: the commission set Sept. 29, 2025, as the date for the second public hearing on the final budget and instructed staff to return with specific options for COLA restoration and final balancing before that hearing.
