Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
April 2, 2018 7:15 p.m.
It’s getting to be that time of year once more. Putting together the annual budget to address needs of the community and priorities of the Fernandina Beach City Commission is a complicated task that begins with internal discussions between the City Manager and Department Directors and wends its way through discussions with commissioners to public hearings and final adoption in September.
Along the way, the city gets estimates of anticipated revenues from the Nassau County Property Appraiser who certifies the taxable value of properties in the city. That factor, when balanced with needs and priorities of the city, will result in a proposed millage rate that commissioners will support or reject when it comes to them for a vote this summer. That decision may then cause further adjustments in the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2018
City Manager Dale Martin has published the schedule for budget preparation, which will begin in May. We provide it below for your information, and also to let you know that if you have specific projects or needs that you believe should be included in next year’s budget, now is the time to bring them to the attention of City Commissioners.
