Tavares FL Sept. 18, 2019 City Council approves $74-million budget and millage of 6.95
Channel: FiscalRangersFlorida
Date: 2019-09-21

The Tavares, FL City Council met on Sept. 18, 2019, for their regular City Council meeting PLUS the second required 5:05 PM meeting to approve the proposed $74-million budget (up 60%) plus a millage rate of 6.95, which is over the rollback rate. They did not discuss that valuations increased 10+%, thus even with the small millage decrease from the prior year. property owners will get hit with bills 3% to 10% or more. 

They also approved a new wastewater rate of 5% in the first two years and 3% in the third year. Water rates were reduced, however. Local retired taxpayers complained but to no avail.

Four people provided critical input about the proposed budget increase and millage hike over the rollback rate, but to no avail. The Council (Kirby Smith was absent) hardly discussed their rationale for their vote. I gave input and suggested Tavares be renamed "Spendalot City" or Camelot due to all the spending and expensive department buildings. 

The Council discussed a pending League of Cities meeting on Oct. 16 to consider implementing a 5 cents/gallon local gas tax. 

There is also an "Impact Lake" meeting on Oct. 16 in Clermont to discuss "Road Maintenance Funding".

The Council was invited to attend a meeting between the City of Eustis and the County to consider a revised ISBA (Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement).  Recent actions by the Tavares City Council to annex Lake County developments for high-density projects vs surrounding neighbors have inflamed County residents who complained to the County Commissioners.  Thus the County Board tried at their last meeting to implement ISBA conditions on Eustis which were rejected, thus the meeting will take place to "negotiate" a new ISBA, and Tavares was invited to sit in.  The Council voted not to participate.  The Eustis ISBA page is at:  http://www.eustis.org/business/development_plan_approval/interlocal_service_boundry_agreement_(isba)/index.php   

Residents of one of the Dead River Road communities complained about the base rate for utilities charged to snowbirds when they were out of town, which could be $80/month.  The City Manager explained why, and no action was taken.  (Thus snowbirds need to be warned of the need to pay for Tavares supplied water & wastewater services EVERY MONTH, even when they are up North).  

Councilmember Kirby Smith has resigned to run for County Commissioner.  He has missed several Council meetings.  His last meeting is apparently Oct. 16 if he attends. 

The City Council discussed priorities to present to the Lake County Legislative Delegation at an upcoming meeting they hold each year. 

Video by Lake County, FL Fiscal Watchdog blogger Vance Jochim of FiscalRangers.com.  
Short link to this video is:  https://youtu.be/2YcUgfWF7J0
Length of video is:  1 hr, 27 min., 5.2 GB
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