Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/144898
Sarasota News Leader July 19, 2013 Page 19 they allowed Nadalini to keep the $116,000 in be about $1.4 million left, meaning a year from her budget. now, when the fiscal year 2015 budget is being developed, the "revenue stabilization fund" The battle continued when Chapman — with will be good for one last drawdown. Commissioner Willie Shaw's second — moved to ask the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) In addition to hitting the reserves for $1 milto conduct an "external quality assessment" of lion, the commissioners also called for a Nadalini's auditors. Nadalini said such an au- $250,000 increase in parking revenues to baldit would place a heavy responsibility on her ance the upcoming budget. The Parking Deauditing staff, so she wanted to hire a third partment next year will require a $500,000 person. subsidy to stay in operation. "Clearly, if my department is not adequately staffed, it takes a significant amount of work to cooperate with the IIA staff when they come in," she said. Parking Director Mark Lyons presented four options that had been discussed by his Parking Advisory Committee. Two were non-starters, calling for drivers to pay for on-street parking. The motion failed 2-3. Atwell and Chapman One option was a continuation of the current were in the minority; Shaw failed to support — everything free — system that requires the the motion he seconded. A subsequent motion half-million-dollar annual subsidy. to call for an audit of Nadalini's office after The fourth option was unanimously opposed she hired a third auditor passed unanimously. by the Parking Advisory Committee, which THE BOTTOM LINE For a number of years, the city has tapped into one-time funds to keep the books in balance. For next year's budget, it will transfer $500,000 from the reserves of the solid waste and self-insurance funds for the second year to help make ends meet. However, the commissioners were told those funds are now tapped out, and any future "raids" will require rate increases. said it is "not financially sustainable" even though it would seem to raise the money the City Commission needs. That option would continue free on-street parking, but it would demand payment at parking garages and establish a paid employee parking system. Commissioner Shaw at one point offered a motion to cut through all the gimmickry and simply raise taxes to pay for the spending plan: no one-time transfers, parking gymnastics or raids on the reserves. The proposal would cover the $3.4 million deficit with a 20 percent increase in the millage rate. The 3.5112 mills would cost the owner of a $200,000 house an additional $117 per year, or 32 cents per day. The one pot of money the commission continues to tap is the general fund reserves, known officially as the "revenue stabilization fund." And for next year, the commission proposes to pull out another $1 million. The bottom, though, is in sight for those monies. There will Shaw's motion failed for lack of a second. %