| Coral Springs earns recognition for its events From David Volz The City of Coral Springs earned recognition from the Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA) with two SUNsational Awards for 2021, as well as two additional awards for 2020. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of the challenges faced, the city’s events team worked hard to reimagine events for the community. These awards honor the dedication and creativity of the staff members who plan and host these events for our residents,” said Alexander Falcone, Director of Emergency Management and Special Events. With more than 400 submissions by 50 organizations and individuals, the City of Coral Springs received SUNsational Awards in the following categories: 2021 Photo Opportunity Area – 2nd Place, Downtown in December Tree Lighting Event Photo – 3rd Place, Coral Springs Holiday Drive-Thru Experience 2020 Event Photo – 2nd Place, Artoberfest Promotional Mailer – 3rd Place, Artoberfest The awards are judged in three different budget levels and 20 different categories by a blue-ribbon panel representing media outlets, printing companies, website designers, photographers, promotional marketing professionals and social media experts. “The SUNsational Awards have recognized and celebrated the talents of our members for more than two decades,” said Suzanne Neve, CEO of the FFEA. “We’re proud of our members and their events – and excited to recognize them in this way each year. This year in particular was incredibly rewarding as we showcased the innovation and resilience of festival and event organizers throughout the state during this unprecedented time.” |
On Monday, September 13, 2021, the City of Coral Springs will host a Public Hearing for the proposed FY2022 budget at 6:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers (City Hall, 9500 West Sample Road).
The proposed Truth In Millage (TRIM) notices sent to homeowners of Coral Springs by the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office stated a proposed millage rate increase of .3500. The proposed millage increase is determined by financial information from the Budget and Strategy Department has leading up to the meeting to set TRIM. The millage rate can be reduced by the Commission but cannot be increased once TRIM is set. During that meeting on July 28th, 2021, City Manager Frank Babinec assured the City Commission, staff would work diligently throughout the budget planning process leading up to the first Budget Hearing to bring that number down.
Since the July 28, 2021, meeting to set TRIM, the City of Coral Springs received the Department of Revenue State tax revenue projections, clarification on how funds for the Federal American Rescue Plan Act funding can be allocated and reported. As a result, the millage rate that will be proposed during the first Budget Hearing will be .1500. The average homeowner, with an average taxable value of $256,213 will pay approximately $2,293 per year for property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments (fire, stormwater, solid waste). This increase is approximately $145 more this year than last, which equates to $12.11 per month. The property tax increase is a 2.6% increase from 5.8732 to 6.0232.
Coral Springs City Manager Babinec says, “The financial sustainability of our city is one of my greatest responsibilities. Our city’s five-year forecast originally called for a .2025 increase to the millage rate, I am pleased that city staff were able to further reduce the planned millage increase to .1500. From strategic planning to building our FY2022 budget, I challenged staff to determine their needs versus wants to ensure we can fulfill our vision to be the premier city in which to live, work, and raise a family. The budget process is just that, a process in which we seek public input, take into consideration new information about taxable revenues and federal funding opportunities, which led to a 57% reduction to the original proposed millage rate.”
The city’s five-year forecast does not call for an additional millage increase in FY2023. The assessed property values of homes are set by the Property Appraiser’s Office each year on December 31st. Home values provided by the appraiser’s office consider taxable value, including Homestead exemptions and portability, not actual home sales.
The proposed budget book outlining the strategic and business plan has been posted with the last direction from the Commission of a .3500 millage increase. Staff is able to complete all initiatives summarized for transparency in that book except the Park Signs of $250,000, which has been removed from the FY2022 operating and capital budget. To fund the project, the city will look for alternative funding sources such as grant funding. The watermark is on each page for the reader to understand a reduction is forthcoming.
The adopted budget book outlines the strategic and business plan, which will be published once the City Commission approves the budget on September 22, 2021. This document provides the public transparency of staff’s direction for the year ahead.
