Newberry City Commission sets millage rate at 5.88, increases utility rates
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
NEWBERRY, Fla. – At the September 8 meeting, the Newberry City Commission swore in City Clerk Randa Paul; set the new millage rate at 5.8800; increased electric, water, and wastewater rates; and changed the zoning for the Agriculture Technology Park.
Clerk Randa Paul sworn in
The meeting began with a swearing-in ceremony for newly-appointed City Clerk Randa Paul, conducted by outgoing City Clerk Judy Rice.
Rice turned over the Official Seal of the City of Newberry to Paul, and Mayor Tim Marden read a proclamation honoring Rice’s 35 years of service.
Fabulous 50s Festival to be held Sept. 20
During public announcements, Chris Mack of Newberry Main Street talked about the upcoming Third Annual Fabulous 50s Festival on Saturday, September 20, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Newberry Historic District. Mack said, “It’s all about the fifties… Visit our local vendors, our restaurants, our stores, and show your love for Newberry.”
First budget hearing
Marden introduced the budget hearing portion of the meeting and said the final budget hearing will take place on September 22 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
City Manager Jordan Marlowe said, “Our taxable property value grew by 8% this year, reaching nearly $884 million. It is that growth which allows us to lower the millage rate to 5.88, while still giving us the resources to invest in our citizens, our services, and the infrastructure that supports our community… Of course, like every community, we face rising costs. To keep our utilities financially strong, this budget includes modest adjustments: about $5 a month for electricity, $4 for water, and $6 for wastewater for the average household. Even with these changes, our utility rates remain highly competitive in this area.”
Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee discussed the millage rate: “Tentative millage rate for the City of Newberry is 5.8800 mills, which is 3.16% more than the rolled-back rate of 5.6995 mills… The rolled-back millage rate in the General Fund would have generated approximately $159,546 less than the tentative millage rate.”
The Newberry City Commission set a maximum proposed millage rate of 6.0623 mills in July, but the adopted millage rate of 5.8800 mills came in well below that and is also below the current rate of 5.9000 mills.
Marden opened public comments for the budget hearing. Brandy Oldman suggested trying harder to make cuts from the budget and spending more on recreation activities for kids.
The City Attorney read the resolution to adopt the millage rate. Commissioner Tony Mazon moved to approve the resolution, Commissioner Rick Coleman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
The City Attorney read the resolution to adopt the proposed City budget. Commissioner Donald Long moved to adopt the budget resolution, Mazon seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Utility rates
Lee introduced three ordinances to amend electric, water, and wastewater rates. Lee said the proposed electric rate increases are 4.5%, resulting in a net increase of $5.37/month for the average residential customer. Water rates will increase by 7.5% in the consumption charge and the customer charge, resulting in an average residential customer impact of $4.30/month. Wastewater rates will increase by 8.5%, resulting in an increase of $5.91 for the average residential customer.
Commissioners voted unanimously to raise the electric, water, and wastewater rates. Marden said that concluded the budget hearing portion of the meeting.
Amending zoning for the Agriculture Technology Park
Community Development Director Stacey Hectus said, “I’m super excited to be here this evening regarding this specific item. I really am.” She said staff recommended amending the official zoning atlas from Agriculture A to Agriculture Technology, the first time the new zoning has been used [see Alachua Chronicle’s coverage of the June 9 meeting for more details]. Hectus said the second reading of the zoning change will be heard Monday, September 22nd at 7 p.m. here at City Hall and added that the Planning & Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of the parcel.
Hectus continued, “You all are probably very familiar with this Agriculture Technology parcel. It has a Corporate Park future land use on it. It is owned by Miss Norita Davis. It’s 165.88 acres. This is the last step… Basically, the runway is open and ready to go for development of our Agriculture Technology Park… So when this changes zoning, this parcel is now completely ready after the second reading for all things Agriculture Technology… This has been 15 to 20 years in the making.”
Mazon made a motion to approve the zoning change, and Coleman seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.