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SEBRING BUDGET CRUNCH: Some Requests Cut; Sebring Clerk May Get $10,000 Raise

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The city is planning to contribute $10,000 to the Children’s Museum.

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: June 13, 2008

SEBRING — The city of Sebring will have to make do with $1.7 million less in revenues, but the city nevertheless has budgeted donations to the Children's Museum, Safe House, the Historical Preservation Commission, the Boys and Girls Clubs and the July 4 fireworks celebration.

But about those fireworks. City Councilor Margie Rhoades isn't pleased that the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency has donated $5,000, and she wants the council to withdraw its planned $5,000 gift.

"Instead of spending $10,000 on fireworks, I think we should spend more on the Children's Museum and the Boys and Girls Club," said Rhoades, in a budget hearing Wednesday. Another hearing is scheduled June 17. The city is planning to contribute $10,000 to the Children's Museum and $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Club.

"We've been giving $5,000 ever since I've been on the council," countered John Griffin. "We have no say over the CRA and what they spend their money on."

"We'd be saying to the Young Professionals, 'Get all your money from the CRA,'" Mayor George Hensley said. The Heartland Young Professionals arrange the Independence Day celebration in Sebring.

"In a tight budget year, we've increased the fireworks budget," Rhoades retorted. "It's a one day thing. The Boys & Girls Club is 350 days a year.

The council decided to wait until they got more information from the CRA. They will not act on any items until they officially adopt the entire budget.

Other Items
* Kathy Haley, who keeps the city's records, was recommended for a $10,000 raise. Finance Director Mike Eastman surveyed seven cities, which showed she is the lowest paid clerk in Avon Park, Lady Lake, Lake City, Lake Wales, Palatka, Tavares and Zephyrhills.

"It is being recommended that the council increase the salary for this position by $8,204 to a salary of $52,350. This will still be $2,805 less than the average for comparable cities," Eastman wrote.
"No," Rhoades objected. "The average salary is $54,435. Let's raise her salary to $54,435."

* Administrative secretary Renee Puzynski and Permit Clerk Jessica Oliveros were also singled out for pay increases. Puzynski has absorbed the responsibilities as secretary to both the city administrator and the assistant city administrator, and would make about $25,000 a year. Oliveros would make almost $21,000.

* An accountant with a degree is being added to the Mike Eastman's finance department. "We need to segregate certain duties that are performed by the same person," Eastman said.
"This position – do you have to have a degreed accountant?" asked Councilor Dan Andrews, who has accounting experience.

"God forbid you should drop dead with all the knowledge you have here," Councilor Bud Whitlock said, pointing to his head. If the council agrees, the salary would be $45,000.

* Fire Chief Brad Batz asked for a secretary with a salary range of $25,000 to $35,000. The request was reduced to $20,800. He also asked for a new $25,000 4-wheel drive SUV to replace a 1990 Jeep Cherokee inspection vehicle. The request was knocked down to $12,000.

* Phase 2 of renovations to the fire department, which would have cost $250,000, were put off another year. So were renovations to Station 15, which was built in 1979. It still has the original wood paneling, popcorn ceilings and kitchen cabinets. The ceilings are stained from 2004 storm damage.
Rhoades objected. "When are we going to do this?" she asked. "Those guys are in there 24 hours a day."

Other councilors didn't see the problem. It was obvious to her. Twenty-nine-year-old cabinets.
"Don't you update your old cabinets?" she asked.

* The fire chief asked for two new engines, one was scratched from the budget. "Twice, one of the (12 year-old) trucks caught fire while working structure fires with our personnel inside," Batz told the council. "If a truck were to break or shut down while the firefighters were fighting a fire, it would place those firefighters in a very dangerous position. This is not a ploy to purchase a new shiny fire truck, it is a safety issue."

The council agreed in principal to start banking $50,000 a year for the purchase of new trucks, which currently cost $375,000.

* Like other motorists, the city is spending 25 percent or more on fuel. The police department budgeted $85,000 in fiscal year 2006-07, $97,000 in 2007-08, and $125,000 in the 2008-09 budget. The fire department gas and oil budget went from $17,000 to $25,000 in two years.

* Declines are expected in several revenue categories. In FY 2007, the 6-cent local fuel tax collected $232,000. In FY 2009, it is expected to bring in $175,000. The 5-cent tax went from $180,000 to $125,000 in those two years.

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