REDINGTON BEACH – As a result of Tropical Storm Debby’s wrath, the town of Redington Beach’s American flags that are displayed for all national holidays, along Gulf Boulevard, were in tatters.
The storm occurred back in June and more or less snuck up on the area with drenching rains and fierce winds, destroying vegetation on many of the local beaches.
Not wanting to remain flagless, the Town Commission purchased 26 new American flags from Florida Flag and Pennant, including 6-foot spinner poles with gold ball for a cost of $1,600.
This final expenditure of the 2012 fiscal year had not been anticipated in the budget, nor was there money, so a resolution by the commission was required to release the money from one of the town’s other funds.
The two options the commission had were to either take the money, as would be the custom, from the capital projects, earmarked for roads and streets, or to access the funds from another of the town’s storm debris reserves, created in the 2004-05 budget and set up to pay for storm-related damages.
The board, ultimately, voted to utilize the money from the capital fund’s roads and streets maintenance. The flags are displayed for all national holidays.
The second and final hearing on the 2012-13 fiscal year budget took place on Sept. 20. There were no surprises as the commission voted unanimously to approve a $1.2 million budget with expenses anticipated at $890,000.
The ad valorem rate remains at 1.94 and is expected to generate $575,185 in taxable revenue.
The $1.2 million in revenue comes from the general fund, capital projects and storm water. These expenditures for these three funds are projected at $890,000 much of which pays for police and fire services, the library, building maintenance, parks and various insurance costs.
![[Image]](/content_images/070312_pco-01z_front.jpg)
