The first budget workshop of the year was held this week in a special meeting at City Hall where commissioners got an initial glimpse where they city will focus its funds over the course of the next fiscal year.
Diane Reichard, chief financial officer for the City of Plant City, gave an in-depth and brilliantly formatted presentation on the upcoming fiscal year. She highlighted changes in funding, explained the why behind the investments the city annually commits to and outlined the basics of the allocation of funds this year including new hires, upcoming projects and ongoing financial commitments.
Highlights of the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget
• The total budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $91,243,207, which includes $2,306,877 for the Community Redevelopment Agency
• The General Fund budget is $42,309,714
• The millage rate is set at 5.7157 mills, which includes 1.0 mil dedicated entirely to street resurfacing and related maintenance.
• There will be a net increase of eight employees, bringing the city’s total workforce to 475 employees.
• The fiscal year includes a total capital improvement program budget of $15,554,631.
Financial assistance
Each year the City of Plant City allocates funds to a variety of groups and organizations around the community. The initial proposed budget shows:
• $140,000 to assist the Plant City Economic Development Corporation to market Plant City on a full-time basis
• $10,000 to the annual investment fee to the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation via PCEDC
• Plant City Chamber of Commerce ($65,000); Boys and Girls Club of Plant City ($20,000); Railroad Museum Society ($25,000); Economic Incentive QTI Program ($31,005); 1914 Building ($40,000); Plant City Main Street ($50,000); Arts Council of Plant City ($6,000); and $2,000 each to Black Heritage Celebration, Improvement League of Plant City and the Christmas Parade.
Parks & Rec
Parks and Recreation has several exciting projects proposed for the upcoming fiscal year including:
• Creating dog parks at Mike Sansone Park and Marie B. Ellis Park for $130,000
• Allocating $100,000 toward the construction of a spray park
• Installing ornamental cemetery fencing for $125,000; providing $75,000 to design a larger cemetery operations maintenance building and a separate customer service building; improving roadways in various cemeteries for $100,000
• Rehabilitating the recreation division’s storage barn at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex for $60,000
• Adding playground improvements for $150,000
Stormwater/Water & Sewer
One of the larger financial commitments of the upcoming fiscal year is proposed in water/sewer and the stormwater improvements. The city has long been committed to improving infrastructure, reclaimed water and stormwater operations throughout the community. A variety of projects over the course of the next year will further that mission.
• Water and sewer infrastructure improvements of $2,620,000 to repair lift stations, replace waterlines, gravity sewer lines, generators, pumps, water storage tanks, meters and force mains to improve water quality and provide a more efficient system
• Invest an additional $400,000 to construct Water Treatment Plant 5
• Provide an additional $500,000 to the Reclaimed Water Recharge project
• $100,000 toward the design of McIntosh Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) project; an additional $150,000 toward design and construction of the McIntosh Park Wetland Expansion; Stormwater will also contribute $150,000 toward McIntosh Park Wetland Expansion project
• Invest $200,000 towards the rehabilitation and repair of stormwater drainage pipes and inlets
The public hearing for the tentative budget will be held Sept.13 at 7:30 p.m. and the public hearing for the final budget will be held Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m.