Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fees And Legal Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff: short-term rental inspection fees must remain in general fund; legal-services breakout provided
Summary
Staff told council that short-term rental inspection fees do not fall under the Florida Building Code (statute 553.80) and therefore must remain in the general fund; staff also provided a detailed breakout of professional legal-services charges totaling $44,978.48 so far.
During the budget presentation staff answered council questions about short-term-rental inspection fees and the composition of professional legal-services expenditures. The City Manager told council that short-term rental inspections do not fall under the Florida Building Code and cited statute 553.80 as the reason the fee cannot be moved into the building fund and therefore must stay in the general fund.
Staff also presented a detailed breakout of legal-services charges across funds: pending/active litigation billed to water and sewer ($9,796.85); CRA due diligence ($1,767.50); a paralegal buyout and temps-to-hire charge (~$9,399.63); land-use consultant $22,312.50; and outside services tied to a fire-union bargaining review $1,702 — total professional legal services across all funds to date $44,978.48, with $33,414.13 charged to the general fund. The City Manager said the FY27 legal-services budgeted line is $45,000 and staff feels comfortable with that level given the current mix of pending and active work.
Staff committed to provide further line-item detail if council wants additional breakout of carry-forward or encumbrance amounts.
