The City of Brooksville held a special budget meeting on June 26 and had several issues to discuss on its agenda, including the General Fund and plans to set a tentative millage rate. The millage rate was not decided in the special meeting and was postponed until later this month by a recommendation from Brooksville Mayor Blake Bell and upon consultation from City Finance Director Autumn Sullivan.
Council member Thomas Bronson was absent from the meeting.
One of the meeting agenda’s key items was setting the tentative millage rate, and upon recommendation by outgoing City Manager Ron Snowberger, would need to be set by Friday, Aug. 4, to give the property appraiser’s office time to include the rate on the TRIM, or Truth in Millage Act, notice.
“Right now, the budget is balanced with a 5.9 millage rate,” said Sullivan. “One mill is $635,000, just to give you an idea. That is probably going to increase by the time we are done with the budget.”
Bell then immediately recommended postponing setting the tentative millage rate until sometime in July, and the council agreed. Sullivan added that it would be during the budget meeting scheduled for Monday, July 17, during which there will also be a discussion on all funds except the General Fund.
Next was the discussion on hiring a new city manager to replace Ron Snowberger, who will be leaving the city due to retirement.
Vice Mayor and Council member David Bailey had the price tag on his mind and asked what the starting pay would be for the new position, and Bell indicated that it would be negotiable, with a possible range of $97,000-115,000 a year.
Bell then informed the council that he had met with City Human Resources Director Kyle Martin and indicated that there would be a 30-day timeline to select a new city manager. Martin said that date would be set for Monday, July 31st. Martin explained the candidate selection process, which would be the norm for an executive-level position.
“A pre-screening would take effect,” explained Martin. “So, myself and two other members of leadership-and then a background pre-screening to verify employment and levels of education. We would then transition those to the Hiring Committee, which is the City Council. Interviews would take place, and then there would be a meet and greet with the public and staff. Once the candidate is selected, a formal background check and screening would then be completed.”
Bell then added that the selection process would take place for two days, and each council member would interview each applicant for 30 minutes, and then there would be a meet and greet with the public at a local bistro. Afterward, the council would return and pick the top choice for city manager.
The next regularly scheduled Brooksville City Council meeting is set for Monday, July 17, at 7 pm at City Hall.
The schedule for the budget meetings and public hearings is as follows:
Monday, July 17, 2023, @ 3:00 PM – Special Budget Meeting to discuss all funds except General Fund; set Tentative Millage Rate if not set at June 26, 2023, meeting.
Monday, August 7, 2023 @ 7:00 PM – Regular City Council Meeting – Tentative Date for Public Hearing to set the Final Fire Assessment Rate
Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at 5:01 PM – First Budget Hearing
Monday, September 18, 2023, at 6:30 PM – Second and Final Budget Hearing
