[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6519566,"mediaKeyId","5353761-76a22212fe8a1c1a7959c7239ed0bc47","parentId",5353761,"title","Margate sets preliminary millage ceiling at 7.5389; commissioners seek lower CRA contribution in FY2026 budget workshop","audioSeconds",4435,"startMs",1329000,"endMs",5764000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353761-76a22212fe8a1c1a7959c7239ed0bc47&start=1329&end=5764","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353761-76a22212fe8a1c1a7959c7239ed0bc47/thumbnail_1329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6519566/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Margate-sets-preliminary-millage-ceiling-at-75389-commissioners-seek-lower-CRA-contribution-in-FY2026-budget-workshop","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519566-db4125e843e6b3b78725b8adcb262df9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151433&Signature=ePCDT2TiMuAmC0liomQ0Ksi2HssE4IRfxO0IHLT2bY5M2~~JyPEqyNSm-QZkeqx~Td~ObGEjkx76bK~D~7pq2CEae1xhAUh~rsRjNKOoKv4v8n1--cdSFTwFT6i6Sj9oIJ6M-gMoh2nuMMw-qz77k1E6gIHts69NmMEELsEvcCKZKUOZoA7bki8ROmbXzBY5rArbOIKiMDg6B~MWpBZFQPnCUIQnata8HEngF01JCAvwHgL26boy2BtJ6ZAr1YqSmQ5TyDwbA5wMo8xuQEU8rho3WFCGu0YX5uwR6R5aq4prFig3rYCUdG9cn5-0sPeYhne-~BriTp54LvqSDHwACw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Margate","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","City of Margate officials on July 9 reviewed a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and set a preliminary millage ceiling of 7.5389 by commission consensus, while asking staff to pursue a reduced tax‑increment contribution to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) that officials said could free roughly $1.3 million for city use.

Finance Director Ishmael Diaz and Budget Manager Dacia Burke led a presentation that placed the proposed total FY2026 budget at about $255 million and the proposed general fund at $85.3 million. Burke said the total millage proposed for FY2026 is 7.5389 \"and that's a reduction of 0.0278, which is approximately $140,000,\" and that the operating millage has remained at 7.1171 since FY2020. The staff presentation used June 1 Broward County property appraiser values as the basis for revenue estimates; staff showed an estimated 6.5% increase in taxable value that underlies projected ad valorem revenue.

Budget highlights presented to the commission included a proposed $80,000,000 allocation from a water/wastewater bond series for multi‑year projects: $10 million for water line replacement, $55 million for aeration upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant, and $15 million for headworks upgrades. Burke said the FY2026 proposed budget totals $255,000,000, a decline of 11.63% from the FY2025 amended budget driven largely by timing and reductions in capital improvement fund spending.

Staff outlined general fund capital requests totaling about $1.8 million for FY2026. Items itemized in the presentation included $656,000 for police equipment, $674,000 for fire equipment, $69,000 for information technology, $278,000 for public works and $155,000 for parks and recreation requests. Parks projects discussed as rebudgeted items included a pedestrian bridge from Firefighter Park to Winfield Boulevard, median beautification across the city, and remaining balances on parks bond projects including Oriole Park and Centennial Park.

On the Community Redevelopment Agency, the commission asked staff to research reducing the city's tax‑increment financing (TIF) contribution from the current level to about 80%. The manager and CRA representatives said the CRA has cash on hand and budgeted projects but that lowering the city's contribution to 80% could free approximately $1.3 million. The commission directed staff to prepare an interlocal/ILA to effect a reduced contribution and asked staff to report back; CRA leadership indicated they had already discussed the possibility and considered 80% feasible.

Commissioners also raised line‑item questions and operational notes during the workshop: the presentation showed that police and fire together account for about 55% of general fund expenditures; staff noted the city will continue conservative budgeting practices and that the proposed budget includes a $4.5 million conservative deficit placeholder that the city typically closes with actual revenue performance and year‑end adjustments. Specific operational topics raised by commissioners included IT cybersecurity funding, commission event and membership budgets, vehicle leasing accounting, parks median landscaping funding (the manager said $500,000 is budgeted for Rock Island Road landscape work), and planned improvements to audio‑visual systems in the commission chambers.

The commission set required public‑hearing dates by law: the first budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5:01 p.m., and the second public hearing for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6:00 p.m. The commission took consensus to set the millage ceiling at 7.5389 (the chair conducted a verbal roll call and commissioners confirmed support) and to pursue staff research on reducing CRA TIF contribution to 80% for board consideration.

Staff emphasized that figures used in the presentation derive from June 1 property-appraiser data and that final numbers may change when July updates are released. The manager and finance staff said they will incorporate any commission direction into the September budget submittal and follow up with the commission on CRA ILA options and the details of any changes to program and capital priorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Margate - 7/9/25 City Commission Budget Workshop - Jul 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a July 9 budget workshop, Margate staff proposed a $255 million FY2026 budget and commissioners by consensus set a preliminary millage ceiling of 7.5389; the commission also asked staff to research reducing the city's CRA TIF contribution to 80%, which staff said could free about $1.3 million.","taxTitle","Margate, Broward County, Florida","taxId",5088,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6519571,"Margate commissioners back consultant pay‑grade changes; implementation cost about $495,000",1249,76000,1325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5353761-76a22212fe8a1c1a7959c7239ed0bc47&start=76&end=1325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5353761-76a22212fe8a1c1a7959c7239ed0bc47/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6519571/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Margate-commissioners-back-consultant-paygrade-changes-implementation-cost-about-495000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6519571-e06655c89b783e63c3fb7ab716da1db8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151433&Signature=m7PHTL01nJf3PFinOWcaY0JK76NFazCTGtvN5nZW3IGiJUT9Ms6aTVCupqvV9dN2rAL03owggplvBaZw-pCgwOPEo8XmGzWjiJpiYK0klIlKqxiIAd~oiIKOacFSH4ht-52Lh2QRDfDbMA4PlGVzdlaua~Y2fy2GLjNB2Xt4YZgDmD0WQntDgsoXDoXzJb-BorzmquXR1LVocfxCcgSZfT8BpapP1xnOr0uY8jygrotgW-VJq7roQAsOfFNboAu-65G24oqlRaxsjNz2HND0RdCoauLD397j3D~VkqMvgTD~-WKUATe4PZw5QXLPeHqhEZ9DRmBlOOXcGE2WGz39FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant presentation at the City of Margate's July 9 budget workshop drew commission consensus to adopt new pay grades and wider salary ranges that aim to make city pay more competitive. The Gareng Group recommended slotting more than 400 city positions into newly designed pay ranges and widening those ranges to a 50% spread; the initial cost to implement the recommended changes is about $495,000 when payroll taxes and retirement costs are included.

The study, presented by consultant John Mueller of Gareng Group, benchmarked more than 200 city positions against 16 neighboring agencies, including the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, City of Coral Springs, City of Fort Lauderdale and City of Pompano Beach. \"We benchmarked those 200 plus positions,\" Mueller said, and concluded Margate's pay-range minimums were generally near the market median but that many ranges were narrow. \"Your minimum salaries... were very competitive, but you were topping out much faster,\" he said, noting Margate’s typical range spread was roughly 33–35% compared with the 45–55% spreads the firm saw elsewhere.

The firm proposed new pay grades built around the 50th percentile of the market and recommended slotting each incumbent into the appropriate new grade. Mueller told commissioners that about 426 employees would require some adjustment during initial implementation and that the citywide cost before payroll taxes and employer contributions was \"a little bit over $400,000. But then when we really look at everything and add in your insurance and taxes... the number to implement is closer to 500,000. It's about 495,000.\" The consultants and city staff said that figure will vary with normal hiring, promotions and separations before implementation.

City staff and commissioners discussed timing. The consultants recommended adopting the new pay plan in the fiscal 2026 budget process and applying cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and step increases afterward so the city does not fall behind the market during a phased implementation. The city manager sought commission consensus to \"implement the pay grades that you see in the background of the agenda item... for fiscal year 25 and then COLAs going forward\" and commissioners confirmed support; no formal vote was taken at the workshop.

Commissioners who spoke in support framed the changes as retention and recruitment measures. \"I've always felt it's important to make sure that you are competitive... I have no problem with it,\" Commissioner Casciano said. Commissioner Simone called the study \"very, very fair for our employees\" and said she was \"fully in support of this.\" City staff noted bargaining-unit employees—police and fire—also appear in the proposed plan but said any changes that affect those units would require collective bargaining before implementation.

The manager said the recommended pay-grade implementation will be incorporated into the budget document that is presented for adoption in September and that city staff will begin negotiations with bargaining units where changes affect contract-covered positions. Commissioners did not take formal action at the July 9 workshop; the report and the implementation cost will be included in fall budget updates and any negotiated settlements will be brought back to the commission for approval.

Implementation clarifications provided at the workshop: the changes would apply citywide (not only to employees who are topped out), the consultants recommended immediate slotting to new grades followed by future steps and COLAs, and the quoted implementation cost excludes future annual COLAs and step increases.","City commissioners voiced consensus July 9 to adopt new pay grades and wider salary ranges recommended by consultants after a citywide compensation and classification study; initial implementation would cost roughly $495,000 and affect more than 400 employees. Police and fire changes will require bargaining.","actionData","errors"]

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Margate sets preliminary millage ceiling at 7.5389; commissioners seek lower CRA contribution in FY2026 budget workshop

Margate commissioners back consultant pay‑grade changes; implementation cost about $495,000