City of Fernandina Beach holds special meeting to set tentative millage rate

Submitted by

Douglas M Newton, Co-Editor

The City commissioners met on Thursday, August 2, in a special meeting to set the tentative millage rate for FY 2012-2013.  All five commissioners were present as Mr. Corbett returned from his vacation.

The City manager presented two budget options to the commission, which, surprisingly, set millage rates higher than the rates proposed by Mr. Gerrity when he was interviewed by the Fernandina Observer three weeks ago. Option one set the millage rate at 6.3001 and option two set the millage rate at 6.13116.  The current millage rate is 5.4335.

Mayor Filkoff found it necessary to correct Mr. Gerrity on his inclusions in his presentation of the Forward Fernandina interest which is paid by franchise fees and not real property taxes, and the McGill litigation expenses, which  already has funds appropriated and are paid in large part by insurance.  Commissioner Poynter blatantly told Mr. Gerrity that he had not done enough in examining budget cuts and that “he was not happy with this.”

Mayor Filkoff then asked for a motion.  Commissioner Corbett, who ran an austerity campaign, focusing on budget cuts,  reduced taxes, and critical of spending reserves, made a motion to adopt Option one, setting the millage rate at 6.3001 and reducing reserve levels to 21.8 percent.  Commissioners Filkoff, Bunch, and Pelican supported the motion with Commissioner Poynter dissenting.

The tentative millage rate sets the maximum rate but does not mean that the rate cannot  be lowered by action in subsequent  budget meetings.  Perhaps Mr. Gerrity will consider Commissioner Poynter’s suggestion to carefully examine the budget for cost reductions and savings.

August 6, 2012 7:55 a.m.