BELLEAIR – Sept. 17 was the Belleair Town Commission’s night to finalize the 2009-10 budget and millage rate. In a year that has brought changes to the town, the budget passed with virtually no major last minute changes.
The millage rate stands the same as last year at 4.565, with the budget at $8.4 million.
Budgeting just under $5 million to the general fund, the city is prepared to loan $200,000 to its water fund for upgrades, to be repaid over five years, and hire a new code inspector who, as a trained law enforcement officer, will be available to relieve the police department when necessary.
The budget contains funding for a new police vehicle to replace one at end of service as well as a new garbage collection vehicle – although the color remains a point of some discussion; for safety reasons the garbage truck may be brighter than the proposed environmental green.
Another $25,000 was budgeted for a “visioning” project for the city. Commissioner Stephanie Oddo suggested the money be reserved intact until bids for the contract could be secured.
Oddo said she had been approached by several citizens who suggested they would prefer a larger reimbursement for their library memberships.
“Perhaps we could save $5,000 to $10,000 (from the visioning funding) and return it to the library card holders,” Oddo told the commission.
“If the commission agrees we can certainly do that as an administrative function within the current budget,” Town Manager Micah Maxwell said.
The commission agreed to raise the library reimbursement from $50 to $80. However, that increase will have minimal impact on the budget, Maxwell said, because over the last year library usage had declined and funds remained available from reimbursement budget that had been previously set aside.
The meeting also commenced the city’s new contract for fire protection with Largo Fire and Rescue. Largo Fire Chief Michael Wallace was on hand to answer any questions, there were none and the contract passed unanimously.
Resident Virginia Donahue asked the commission if they had any idea when the renovation project would begin on the Belleview Biltmore.
“Recently I had the displeasure of driving past the hotel which is a total disaster,” Donahue said. “My question is when are you guys going to do something to get this thing off the dime?”
Maxwell explained that the commission has no authority to affect the schedule other than should the owners, Latitude Management Real Estate Investors, fail to meet the June 2010 deadline set in their permit, the commission had the power to revoke the permit as well as the site plan approval. He added that the condition of the roof was a matter for the city’s code enforcement board which he said would most likely examine the roof issue next month during their regular meeting.
“They then could take action,” Maxwell added.
Chief Wallace told the assembly that he had done a recent walk through of the shuttered hotel.
“It is still up to code as to fire suppression and protection,” Wallace said.
