Commission split on value of 450th Commemoration

During tonight’s first public budget hearing of a proposed budget of more than $56 million, the five members of the St Augustine City Commission replayed last Monday night’s regular commission meeting when Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes Kline and Commissioner Leanna Freeman said “no” to a beefed-up budget for the 450th Commemoration department.

Mayor Boles corrected Commissioner Freeman Monday night after she reported that she has received a large number of communications from residents saying that they do not see the value in funding the 450th Commemoration to the tune of another million dollars. Boles said that he has not talked with anyone who had a negative thing to say about the spending on the 450th. With that, Boles made a motion, seconded by Don Crichlow, to increase the proposed $799,320 budget, back to the $938,000 originally requested by the department head, Dana Ste. Claire.

The city has already spent millions in direct and indirect costs in the name of the 450th Commemoration; the name given to four individual unrelated landmarks in United States history. The spending began with a celebration of Spain’s Constitution during 2012, Florida’s 500th anniversary of the Ponce de Leon landing in 2013, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Civil Rights Act during 2014, and, finally, the 450th anniversary of the founding of St Augustine by Pedro Menendez de Aviles next year.

During tonight’s meeting:

• Commissioners approved a tentative millage rate the same as last year, 7.5 mills.
• Approved resolutions to set the water and sewer rates
• Approved a 1/2-percent increase in the franchise fee for trolleys and trains
• Adopted a resolution to establish permit fees
• Approved the non-ad-valorem fire assessment fee of $.06 per square foot

All were approved unanimously except for the budget resolution.

Sikes-Kline and Commissioner Leanna Freeman voted against the budget.

The final public budget hearing is September 25th.

The new budget goes into effect October 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.