BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE— With little time remaining to consider its budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23 before its hearing on Sept. 6, Starke commissioners say they want to start earlier next year and from scratch.
Commissioners kept discussion at this final Aug. 15 workshop brief.
Commissioner Shannon Smith wanted to know why they were still transferring so much revenue from utilities to pay for expenditures in the general fund. The projection is back up to $837,000 from around $602,000 this year.
City Clerk Jimmy Crosby said the commission will “drive” the budget and may not spend all that is transferred, just like a $700,000 set aside for capital improvements may or may not be spent.
Smith said he was under the impression that the commission wanted to work on reducing size of the transfer so instead of paying for general government costs, it can be spent on utilities.
“If you want to tackle the general fund this budget year, that’s where you’ve got to go. You’ve got to go to police and fire,” Crosby said.
Smith said that opens another discussion for next year.
The police department budget is almost $1.8 million, up from $1.65 million this year. It has already been discussed the department’s budget was underestimated. The projection for the end of the current fiscal year is nearly $1.8 million. The difference is in personnel costs.
The fire department is also spending more than budgeted on personnel, but less in other areas. It is projected to come in underbudget at $1.4 million. The budget for next year, however, is set at nearly $1.6 million.
The total general fund is balanced at $6.4 million, up from $5.6 million. The difference includes a 3% pay raise for employees as well as capital outlay spending with American Rescue Plan Act spending.
The Utility Fund budget is $19 million next year, compared to this year’s $31 million, which included new revenue for wastewater capital projects as well as work on Orange Street. Transportation is $1.96 million, down from $2.7 million thanks to the completion of Orange Street.
Starke will hold its first budget hearing next Tuesday. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Janice Mortimer called for 2024 budget discussions to begin in January.
