Marathon budget passes first hurdle with little discussion and no dissent

Marathon budget passes first hurdle

with little discussion and no dissent

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

As budget season continues throughout Monroe County, the City of Marathon is well into the process of approving its own finances for the coming 2015-16 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

At its Sept. 8 meeting at the Marathon Government Center, City Council received a briefing on the proposed budget, and voted to advance it along to its next stop: a final hearing, and approval, at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 22.

The nearly $14 million budget will be achieved through a property tax rate of 2.3 mills, which translates into $2.3 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. That means that the owner of a home valued at $400,000 would pay $920 in tax to the city.

The rate is 5.44 percent above the 2.18 rollback rate, at which tax revenues would be identical to those of the previous fiscal year. The budget hearing generated little discussion among council members, no contrary votes, and zero public input.

However Mayor Chris Bull seemed pleased that the millage rate had dropped considerably from its initial starting point of 15.13 percent, much earlier in the process.

“Well done, and thanks for all your hard work,” Bull told the staffers, who helped hack the rate down to size.

Taxing authorities such as Marathon invariably start with a higher number, and whittle it down, rather than take the politically risky route of starting low and working it higher.

At 2.30 mills, the city should generate about $4.5 million in property taxes, some $340,000 above current revenues.

Marathon’s operating budget will be $10,935.100, which includes other revenue streams, such as fees, fines, grants, and permits. Cash reserves will rise to $3.6 million, from the current $3.18 million.

In other news, the new Marathon city manager Charles Lindsey will commence work on Jan. 4.

Lindsey replaces outgoing Manager Mike Puto, who advised City Council earlier in the year that he would be vacating his office by end of the year.

Lindsey, who was officially hired earlier in September, will be compensated at a rate of $141,000 per year, over the next three. However, Lindsey, who previously served as the senior operations manager for Coast Guard Station Marathon from 2010-13, will also receive a 5 percent pay bump should he become a certified city manager through the International City/County Management Association.

Lindsey and his family, including wife Leslie and sons Bosun and Keygan, will also be given up to $10,000 to help with moving expenses, as they return to the Keys from their current home at Coast Guard District 13, in the Pacific Northwest.