Five months ago, Fernandina Beach city commissioners said having voters approve a $25 million bond to fund completion of the river floodwall, improvements to downtown and the demolition of Brett's Waterway Cafe was crucial to the future of the city.
But plans to have the bond issue go before voters are dead for 2024, announced Interim City Manager Charlie George at Tuesday's city commission meeting.
"There is no bond referendum coming in this election," George stated in response to questions from Commissioner Chip Ross. "It's too close to this year, we'll go (for a vote) next year."
The city had retained bond experts to walk them through the bond process at their visioning session last January. Also included in the $25.1 million general obligation bond package was $1.2 million to demolish the Brett’s Waterway Cafe building, $4 million for a Brett’s replacement structure and $1.2 million for marina improvements.
George said city staff are preparing a 2024-25 budget based on the property tax rollback rate, which means if approved by the commission the city would have the same revenues as this year.
"Because we're doing a rollback rate, it will be the same revenues as the 2023-24 budget," George said.
Ross asked about how the city would fund increased costs, "so we're essentially revenue neutral this year, but we have a 3% increase in salaries and we're going to add three new policemen."
George said the city staff's goal for the proposed budget was to focus on maintenance projects.
Ross asked if there was money being budgeted for the construction of beach walkovers that had been removed due to safety issues several years ago.
"We're going to focus on repairing the existing that we have, handrail systems we have so it will be a maintenance project on the walkovers," George said.
Ross also inquired about future budget transfers from the general fund to support the city's marina operations.
"It's likely there will be some transfers necessary with the marina, obviously we have to do that with dredging every year but we do not have a number yet because we have not resolved the marina or golf course budget as of yet," George said.
Five months ago was plenty of time to get a bond referendum up and running for the ballot so we, the people, could decide on things. Not cool. Not cool at all...
There's an election coming up! These incompetents are using the rollback to fool taxpayers into voting for them. Don't be fooled! It's all about reelection, not what's best for the city. The gang that couldn't shoot straight...Bean, Ascue and Sturges.... need to be voted out in November.
Sounds like the OHPA has migrated to City Government. Incredible.