BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Not all city commissioners were on board with the direction of the budget presented by City Manager Drew Mullins on May 3.
Last month, Mullins proposed a budget that would reduce funding transferred from utilities to general government in order to build the city’s enterprise and address infrastructural needs.
Mullins received their blessing, but reducing revenue to the general fund meant reducing expenses. The cuts were largely made to the budgets for the police and fire departments.
Commissioners Andy Redding and Shannon Smith voted against proceeding with a budget that cut spending for fire protection.
Mullins budget for 2024 would expend 80% of revenue on utilities and transportation, 15% on public safety and 5% for all other government services.
Mullins has planned for increases in insurance costs as well as a 5% pay raise for employees and 5% for performance and competitive pay increases bring the total general fund budget for 2024 to $4.3 million..
In addition to $3.8 million in taxes and other general fund revenue, a $500,000 transfer is planned from the utility fund. This is less, however, than has been transferred in previous years.
The fire rescue budget made up $1.59 million of the general fund expenses in 2023. Next year, Mullins is proposing $1.04 million, although changes may result from union negotiations. The primary reduction is in staffing expenses, which have been cut from nearly $1.36 million to $827,000.
Mullins’ reasoning is that the city has a mutual aid agreement with the county, which has a full-time fire rescue agency of its own, and Starke citizens are paying to fund both departments.
The proposed police budget for 2024 is $1.75 million, down from $2.2 million. According to Police Chief Jeff Johnson, after hearing the need for spending cuts during the prior budget workshop, he felt a responsibility to help reduce the transfer of revenue from utilities to general government. He removed more than $484,000 from the police budget by cutting two positions and other cuts to operating expenses and outside services.
While these cuts seem to do a lot for next year, Mullins offered the commission another reality check by offering projections for the utilities fund for the next four years. Given the rising costs of operations will be outpacing revenue increases, less than $13,000 will be available to transfer to the general fund in 2025, and after that there will be no money to transfer after that. The city’s business will be losing money.
According to Mullins, in 2026 the utilities fund will be short more than $400,000. The deficit will grow to more than $843,000 in 2027.
That means the general fund will be operating at a deficit as well between $1.6 million 2025 to $1.84 million in 2027 without the proposed cuts to police and fire. With those cuts, the deficit is reduced — $566,250 in 2025 to $748,726 in 2027.
“It’s a touch situation we’re in. A very frank discussion needs to be had,” Mullins said.
Commissioner Redding asked about how the cuts to the fire department would affect staffing. Mullins said he gave Fire Chief Gary Wise the number he has to work with, but what the outcome will be will depend on negotiations with the union.
“I guess my question is will we have a lesser level of service from what we’ve got now?” Redding asked.
“It will have to be a decrease in staffing through attrition,” Mullins said.
While the city works on infrastructure to prepare for growth, Redding asked what will happen when Starke, the hub of the county, sees a population spurt and doesn’t have a fire department with a significant funding source? The city might need multiple stations by that time, he said.
As for the police department, Commissioner Smith said he would like Sheriff Gordon Smith to come to a commission meeting with a presentation on merging the law enforcement agencies. (See related story.)
Otherwise, commissioners commended the work of the city manager, Clerk Jimmy Crosby and finance staff.
Mayor Scott Roberts said the budget cuts requested, they are making up for the past.
“I wish we didn’t have to cut, trust me. I guarantee you there are four other people who don’t want to have to look at this either,” he said. “The bottom line is where the city manager came from; we don’t have the money.”
Just as the commission now is making decisions based on the past, a future commission can make adjustments based on the decisions made now, Roberts said. The decisions need to be made with fiscal responsibility in mind. That doesn’t mean that commissioners aren’t also thinking about the personnel affected, he said.
“I can tell you that it does affect the personnel, but we’re also responsible for doing our due diligence for the city the best we can, and we’re not all going to agree.”
Juneteenth Pageant announced
The Juneteenth Committee and Shirley Ann Brown Livingstone Scholarship Foundation are hosting the inaugural Juneteenth Pageant for young ladies, ages 15-18 years old.
The event will be held on June 17, from 5-8 p.m. This is a formal affair. The social hour will be from 5-6 p.m. and the pageant will begin promptly at 6 p.m.
All are invited to attend this community event for the cost of admission.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
For more information about this event, please visit Eventbrite and search for the First Annual Miss Juneteenth Pageant 2023. You will find the application for potential candidates, deadlines, information on admission and fees, donation options and more.
This event is sponsored by the Shirley Ann Brown Livingstone Foundation.
If you have questions after visiting the site, please reach out to event coordinator, Valara Petteway at 912-612-3942.
Free STEAM summer camps
The Bradford County School District and Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention are excited to offer two STEAM Summer Camps in Bradford County. This free, confidence-boosting STEAM Camp allows BCSD rising third- through fifth-grade students to build creative inventions and lasting friendships.
Seating is limited, and registration is first come, first served. Parent transportation required.
June 12-15, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Camp activities 8:30-3:30). Southside Elementary School. Registration includes free lunch and an afternoon snack. Go to bit.ly/CadeCampJune to complete your registration.
July 10-13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Camp activities 8:30-3:30) Starke Elementary School. Registration includes free breakfast and lunch. Go to bit.ly/CadeCampJuly.
