Fiscal year 2021-2022 showed that of the 27 trends that are analyzed on an annual basis, 24 were positive, three were marginal, making it a successful year.
This year’s fiscal budget is at approximately $91.2 million with next year’s 2022-2023 budget increasing to $96.4 million.
Of next year’s budget, 49% will go toward the general funds at $46.8 million, while 24% will go toward water/sewer at $23.1 million.
As it trickles down, 10% will go toward solid waste, stormwater will receive 4%, street (gas tax) will receive 3%, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at 3%, special revenue at 3%, and other agendas at 4%.
The city will receive 10 new positions: a building permit coordinator, planner for the Planning and Zoning Department, four police officers, an information technology system administrator for the police department, two plant operators, and a utilities staff engineer. The cost for the new personnel salaries and benefits will amount to $749,000.
A pay study was also conducted with a total of $1.2 million in funds for non-step employees.
Minimum starting rate for full-time employees is $15.15. It establishes additional pay grades for future growth and there will be a minimum of 6% pay increase or minimum of the new pay grade that will be effective on Oct. 1.
For the police department, the base step will be increased by 6% and the step plan will be adjusted while maintaining the percentages between steps. Employees at the police department will receive a new rate at current step on Oct. 1 and will be eligible for the next step increase on their anniversary date.
In regards to the fire department pay plan, captains and battalion chiefs will see an increase in their base step by 6%. Employees of the fire department will receive a new rate at the current step on Oct. 1 and will be eligible for the next step increase on their anniversary date.
Firefighters and drivers pay will be determined based on a collective bargaining agreement.
In regards to employee benefits, there will be a 10% increase to health insurance shared with employees and an increase in annual bonuses from $100 to $250.
There will also be an increase in the monthly car allowance from $243 to $400, and there will be a night shift differential of $1 per hour for eligible positions.
There will be more investing into the workforce with a tuition reimbursement of $20,000, certified public manager designation for $40,000, as well as training and development courses and certifications.
For operating expenses, funds will be increased for chemicals by 23%, fuel by 17%, electricity by 11%, fleet maintenance by 8%, and janitorial by 10%.
The general funds for next year’s budget will be distributed as follows:
• The police department will receive $13.2 million
• Parks and Recreation will receive $7.9 million
• Fire department will receive $7.7 million
• Administration will receive $5.4 million
• Development Services will receive $3.6 million
• The Public library will receive $1.1 million
• Other uses will receive $7.9 million
Approximately $3,000 will be added toward the city commission for travel to the Florida League of Cities annual conference, while the Arts Council will see an additional $4,000.
The budget for the Economic Incentive Program varies annually based on approved agreements and Contingency will maintain a budget of $350,000.
Approximately $61,000 in these funds will go toward outside agencies.
• Black Heritage Celebration will receive $2,000
• Improvement League of Plant City will receive $2,000
• Plant City Christmas Parade will receive $2,000
• Arts Council of Plant City will receive $10,000
• Railroad Museum Society will receive $25,000
• Boys and Girls of Plant City will receive $20,000
Other outside agencies that will be getting assistance in the sum total of $269,189:
• Plant City Economic Development Corp. will receive $150,000
• Plant City Chamber of Commerce will receive $65,000
• Plant City Main Street will receive $50,000
• Economic Incentive QTI Program will receive $31,189
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will receive a budget of $106,325 for school crossing guards. There will be 13 school crossing guards: eight for elementary schools and five for middle schools. There will also be one supervisor and five summer school crossing guards for two elementary schools and three middle schools. Walden Lake, Jackson, and Burney elementary schools will have one crossing guard, while Bryan will have two and Wilson will have three.
Marshall Middle Magnet School will have three crossing guards and Tomlin Middle School will have two crossing guards.
Asset maintenance projects will also get their share of funds:
• Bike/Natural Trail-Sansone Park – $51,250
• User fee park improvements – $40,000
• Park improvements – $100,000
• Air conditioning units – $75,000
• Roofs for city buildings – $291,944
• City hall exterior brick – $6,000
• Elevators in the city facilities – $25,000
• Financial Management Information Systems – $100,000
• Computer Aided Dispatch and Records System$100,000
Also, cemetery improvements will receive $635,000 in allocated funds.