After 7 years of no millage increases, Clermont City Council is proposing an increase of approximately 30%. The current millage is 4.2. The rate would be capped at 5.5.
The increase will provide for costs incurred for the increase in needed personnel, fire and police services, and grounds/street maintenance.
Council Councilperson Michele Barnard Pines has been one of the biggest advocates for an increase in millage, stating, “The council did not create these problems but we have been working to clean this up as well as other issues we walked into”, she said.
At the September 13 Clermont council meeting, Councilmember Barnard-Pines read a statement to all present explaining her perspective.
“After the budget process Council has participated in since May, and the transparency received, I learned there have been countless needs over the past 7 years that were not addressed and now we have to do just that. Clermont’s millage rate has not changed in 7 years at 4.2061.
One of the lowest in the county. No one wants to increase property taxes and no one wants to pay them but this is where we are.
This is not just about safety, police, and fire. It is about all departments within the City and allowing the City to run efficiently for the citizens of Clermont.
We continue to wrestle with employee hiring and retention like every other government agency and business in the nation. Whichever potential recommended budget is decided on (and there have been 5-6 presented to us) and whichever millage rate this Council determines, should include measures to bring stability to our workforce, including salary adjustments and continuous training for our departments to stay on board with their safety as well as citizens safety, and governmental regulations that continuously change and are required of all departments. Also adding staff to bolster our overworked existing teams.
Whatever is determined by Council, the ideal (and this is my personal thoughts) is to ensure our community is made better through revenues provided to the City, as the City is based on service. The expenditures will provide maintaining and improving the City’s assets in order to serve and enhance the experience of living, working, and/or operating a business in Clermont.
The last thing I want to see take place is not being able to provide services to our citizens due to the possibility of short staffing, closing facilities, etc. This is not a threat, this is a reality.
The needs are much greater than the wants and have been recognized by Clermont’s new City Manager with less than a year under his belt, the new Deputy City Manager, and Council members, three of which are in our first term.
We did not create these problems but we have been working to clean this up as well as other issues we walked into.
I understand the impact this has on citizens and I also understand the impact it will have on citizens if we don’t do anything. I HAVE advocated for a millage rate adjustment because I see the needs firsthand, have spent well over 25 hours of intense and complex budget meetings and discussions with City directors and staff, and have listened to employees, first responders, and citizens. I understand what took place in the past and during the budget process. I have advocated for a millage rate increase because I like problems rectified as quickly as possible and as quickly as a municipal government can work (which we all know there are rules to follow, steps to be adhered to, and time it takes).
This is also why Council approved an Impact Fee study last spring to be performed by an outside agency, as required by the State. This takes time but once we receive the agency’s recommendation, this will be under consideration by Council, for an adjustment to our current impact fees. Please keep in mind that impact fees can only be used for new projects…not maintenance on current items, or repairs on structures, vehicles, or improvements to anything existing..but new items. This is regulated.
Not taking action now or for the 8th year in a row is only going to compound the impact we are already seeing and will be passed on in the future, at a detriment to everybody in the City of Clermont, yet again.
There are countless cities across our nation that are in downturns due to a failure in recognizing the true needs are due to a lack of funding. I don’t want the small town I grew up in to become one of them.
In closing, due to this important decision resting on Council, I have been threatened-not physically-but I have been threatened as well as told to restrain myself while sitting up here representing the citizens of Clermont. I have been told I need to “limit my exuberance” for a millage rate adjustment, among other things. I have no excitement or exuberance to adjust the millage rate. I am determined and am a realist to deal with real-life issues and not sweep them under the rug. As an elected official, I have taken the responsibility of making difficult decisions very seriously and I am here to speak for the citizens, as a Council member. I was not elected to be “soft” on issues or concerns. I am here to listen to everybody and believe me, everybody has a different opinion on this heavily charged topic. As a Council member, I am not afraid to address these issues head-on for the betterment of everyone in Clermont.
Councilmember Jim Purvis remarked that it took a lot of courage to make the statement.
Everyone has an opinion but should be respectful of the views of others.
To learn more, visit Clermont Budget Workshop
The final vote will take place on September 20th at 6:30 pm.
