Love meetings?
Key Biscayne officials are doubling up Tuesday evening’s (Sept. 8) schedule with the Village’s First Budget Hearing at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Regular Council Meeting, tentatively set for 7:30 or thereafter.
If you cannot attend in Village Chambers, you can also watch the proceedings live on VKB-TV.
Village Manager Steve Williamson and Chief Financial Officer Benjamin Nussbaum will show how a proposed 3.9% increase (plus-$1,788,626) will be necessary to offset revenues for the Village’s total operating budget of $47,216,716 “just to keep the lights on,” as they like to say.
There’s another proposed $4.12 million for non-operating expenses, including $1.059 million for debt service.
There are 11 new capital improvement projects (totaling $4.958 million) among the 34 (23 continuing) for a grand total of more than $71 million.
The new projects, if given the green light, would be funded by (along with grants, etc. for some):
The General Fund:
• Renourish Beach and Dunes: $1,275,000
• Upgrade Council Chambers Audio-Visual Systems: $275,000
• Replace Village Green Turf (Design): $100,480
• Improve Customer Service Reception Areas: $75,000
• Rehab Community Center Elevators: $350,000
• Replace Police Boat: $204,000
• Replace Village Police Vehicles: $350,000
• Replace Fire Engine (Reserves): $2,200,000
The Stormwater Fund:
• Construct Zone 1 – K8 School Central Stormwater Basin: $500,000
The Transportation Fund:
• Repave Roadways Village Wide: $500,000
• Improve Fernwood Drive (Planning & Concept): $110,000
The Village’s proposed millage rate is 2.8708 (0.48% lower than the current 2.8846).
Looming is the potential impact of the Amendment 3 homestead tax reduction should 60% of Florida’s voters approve on Nov. 3.
The Village’s impact would result in a loss of $1.051 million the first year (2027-28), so either taxes would need to be raised or some public services could take a hit.
Based on the Village’s proposed millage rate, the estimated annual reduction on a homesteaded property would be approximately $287 in FY 2027 and $574 in FY 2028.
The basic $47.2 million proposed budget is built largely on: Police services ($12.2M); Fire Rescue services ($11.4M); Parks & Recreation, Community Center, & Athletics ($7.5M); and Public Works services ($5.8M).
To establish the entire budget, Village officials laid out three focus areas in the grand scheme of things:
Reduce flooding:
• Zone 1 (KBK8 Community School) Stormwater Planning & Design
• Garden District Drainage Improvements
• Stormwater System Maintenance & Repair
• Holiday Colony Flood Reduction & Roadway Improvements
Improve power reliability:
• Zone 8 (Garden District) Power & Telecom Undergrounding
• Village-wide Power & Telecom Undergrounding Program
• Vegetation Trimming Along Power Lines
• Reinforcing Legislation, Regulations & Policies
Protect shorelines:
• Offshore Barrier Reef Feasibility Study
• Beach & Dunes Renourishment
• Seawall Guidelines
The Second (final) Budget Hearing takes place Sept. 22.
Council meeting follows
An abbreviated regular Village Council meeting follows the budget hearing.
Among the agenda items:
A resolution approving a third amendment to the license agreement with PADL, LLC for the paddleboard sharing program.
A resolution establishing the Village’s 2027-28 legislative priorities.
A resolution selecting Moffatt & Nichol Inc. for the offshore feasibility and preliminary shoreline design study.