First Public Budget Hearing (September 12, 2024) Recap

City Commission Lowers Tentative Millage Rate to 5.855, On Track to Be Lowest Since 2011
The City Commission approved an amended Resolution 24-21, which decreased the tentative operating millage rate to 5.855 for Fiscal Year 2025, which is lower than the current year’s operating millage rate of 5.865. Overall, it is estimated that this lower millage rate will save Cooper City taxpayers $44,000. If approved during the Second and Final Public Budget Hearing scheduled for September 24, 2024, at 5:31 PM at City Hall, the operating millage rate of 5.855 would be the lowest since 2011.

City Commission Approves Resolution to Set Fire Assessment Rate for Fiscal Year 2025
The City Commission approved Resolution 24-20, which authorizes the City to charge residents 100% of the cost for fire services in Fiscal Year 2025, compared to 81% in the previous year. This rate amounts to an increase of approximately $75 per household for the upcoming year. During the City Commission Budget Workshop held on July 23, 2024, the City Commission was presented with a plan to earmark money collected through the fire assessment to plan for the potential refurbishing of the current fire station, or building of a new public safety facility in the same place it is currently located. The total fire costs for 2025 will be $6,237,078. By charging residents 100% of the cost for fire services, the City will be able to earmark approximately $1,185,045, which can be allocated towards building a new public safety facility. The City will pursue grant funding opportunities to lessen the burden on Cooper City taxpayers in this effort, but City funds will be necessary to match potential grant funding. As additional background, the City’s Fire Assessment Program has been operating since 1999. A flat fee is charged against single-family residences, while other property types (commercial, industrial, institutional) are charged on a square-foot basis. The fee is apportioned by usage and the number of calls per property type, excluding such calls as EMS. This is to ensure the cost is allocated in an equitable manner and to be consistent with current case law.

City Commission Approves Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2025
The City Commission approved Resolution 24-33, a tentative budget that determines and fixes the amounts necessary to carry on the government of Cooper City for the next fiscal year, which will begin October 1, 2024. The tentative budget will need to be approved during a Second and Final Public Budget Hearing scheduled for September 24, 2024, at 5:31 PM at City Hall.

Within the tentative budget is funding for new capital improvement projects:

  •       $100,000 towards creating a temporary solution for creating new pickleball play areas and improving current play areas until a long-term solution is adopted as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will kick off with a public input workshop on October 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Community Center.
  •       Allocating $1,200,000 for the first phase of design for a Public Safety Complex planning and preliminary design.
  •       Allocating $500,000 for the planning and design of the Public Works office and yard bay space.
  •       Allocate $700,000 for the implementation of the Landscape Master Plan. This amount, together with expected rollover from Fiscal Year 2024, will provide a significant investment in beautification.

The tentative budget also includes organizational changes to continue meeting and exceeding current service levels. The following moves will be made to create more effective and cost-efficient departments:

  •       Merging of Public Works Department and Utilities Department.
  •       Transferring the Parks Maintenance functions to the duties of the Parks and Recreation Department.
  •       Transferring of Risk Management responsibilities from Human Resources to the Finance Department.
  •       Additional funding for contracted tree trimming, $250,000, to supplement City crews.
  •       Stormwater fee increase of 15.28% for Fiscal Year 2025 to keep up with inflation over the last few years. This will accompany a Stormwater Master Plan that will document projects needed and the cost of such projects.