Archer approves tentative budget with a new commercial solid waste fee; City Manager contract remains unresolved
BY JESSE THOMAS FLETCHER
ARCHER, Fla. – Archer City Commissioners unanimously approved a tentative budget and property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2026-27 at their Sept. 14 meeting, adopted a new administrative charge for commercial solid waste customers, and agreed to revisit City Manager Donald Barber’s proposed full-time contract at a future meeting.
The property tax rate of 6.4322 mills, or $6.43 per $1,000 of taxable property value, is unchanged from the current fiscal year and is 6.04% above the rolled-back rate of 6.0656 mills. The rolled-back rate is the rate that would generate the same revenue as last year, excluding new construction.
A final hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.
Budget cuts and debt payments
Commissioner Karen Fiore said the proposed budget reduces technology expenses, eliminates cleaning services and 1.5 full-time-equivalent positions, and reduces overtime.
It also keeps Commissioner compensation at $250 per month, reversing an earlier proposal to restore two monthly payments. Fiore said the difference was redirected toward debt payments, with $500 set aside for a scholarship.
Commissioners spent considerable time discussing how they would monitor spending while the City works to correct its accounting. Fiore and Barber said the budget included in the agenda packet was incorrect, but Fiore said a detailed breakdown would be provided for the Sept. 28 meeting. She said the City should load the budget into its accounting software to compare budgeted amounts with actual spending.
“This will be the year that we establish some of those baselines,” Barber said, explaining that unreliable records made spending estimates difficult.
In a separate 5-0 vote, Commissioners authorized staff to solicit proposals to refinance the City’s existing line of credit. Barber said the request would seek options for $800,000 and $1 million loans, with a 25-year term; he corrected language that referred to a five-year term.
Barber said he hoped to bring a recommendation to the Commission on Oct. 12.
City Manager contract remains pending
Barber’s employment contract remains unresolved. During public comment, officials confirmed that he was still part-time, despite the budget’s provision for a full-time manager.
The Aug. 20 workshop meeting included a proposed $90,000 City Manager salary plus benefits.
The Commission agreed to bring the updated proposed contract back on Sept. 28. The City Attorney said she and Barber would review changes submitted by Commissioner Lewandowski and prepare a revised draft contract showing differences from the earlier proposal.
Commissioners asked for the document in advance, along with identification of any terms that Barber considered nonnegotiable.
Fee schedule approved, water rate increase delayed due to noticing requirements
Commissioners unanimously approved a comprehensive fee schedule, including a new $12.50 monthly administrative charge for commercial solid waste customers. Barber said the charge would help cover City staff time spent handling calls and service issues.
Former Commissioner Joan White objected that commercial customers already pay Waste Pro directly and argued that the additional charge would burden businesses.
“I think you’re double charging our commercial,” White said.
A proposed 3.5% increase in monthly water base and consumption rates prompted a recess while the City Attorney checked notice requirements. State law requires notice through the utility’s billing process.
Officials returned and decided to bring the water increase back for approval on Oct. 12 after sending notices to utility customers. The City Attorney said the effective date would be Nov. 1, with customers receiving increased bills in December.
Wastewater pipeline nears completion
Engineer Mike New of Woodard & Curran reported that the wastewater force main connecting Archer and Newberry was more than 98% complete, with over 42,000 feet installed and pressure-tested; about 500 feet of pipe and several components still need work.
New said he expected completion by the end of the week or early the following week, ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline.
“It appears as though Archer will not lose one cent of the grant that’s been funding this project,” New said.
That progress applies to the pipeline, rather than the entire wastewater system. New said funding for a master pump station and two underground crossings is on hold, but Archer has applied for another $15 million grant that includes that work.
The collection system serving approximately 450 homes and businesses would cost an estimated $35 million, New said. He projected the first phase would begin service in 2028.