The Final Budget Hearing agenda was made available to the public Friday afternoon Sep 25.  

While a few changes were made to the annual budget since Public Hearing #1 on Sep 10, the recommended millage rate of 2.7231 was not changed in the agenda, for Hearing #2. That put the millage rate at 9.9998% above the rollback rate of 2.4756, the millage rate that generates the same total revenue as it did the year before.  

The taxable value of real estate in the Village increased by approximately $491 million in the last year.

In an election year move that seemed to surprise the finance department staff, the Council voted unanimously to reduce the millage rate from the recommended 2.7231 mills to 2.65 mills, a 7.0448% tax increase instead of 10%.  

Then the Council had to approve a budget that matched the amended millage.  The Finance Director put a budget up on the screen in the meeting room and the council then voted 5-0 to approve a budget they could barely see and had no time to contemplate, knowing it could be modified/corrected at any time.

Sue Miller, representing the Islamorada Community Alliance, did point out numerous obvious changes that would significantly reduce the new budget shortfall.  Hopefully they will be incorporated in a budget amendment.  

What a budget season it was in Islamorada.  Hopefully one that will never be repeated.

How did the local governments do in Monroe County in a year in which the State of Florida pushed for tax reductions?

Key West            rollback, no tax increase

Marathon            5.2%  increase

Layton                 6.9% increase

Monroe County   7.45% increase

Islamorada          7.0448% increase