CRESTVIEW — According to city department heads, this year's budgeting process could be the last opportunity the City Council has to reverse years of "status quo" budgets that have eroded financial reserves, stymied future planning and halted routine maintenance.

Without increased revenues, the city can no longer afford services expected by residents, the department heads said at a Monday workshop.

City Clerk Betsy Roy said there are three options available to maintain services at the current level now that departments have stripped their budgets to the bare bones.

• Implement the recently proposed fire assessment fee

• Raise water and sewer rates, as recommended several years ago by city consultants

• Increase the millage assessment.

However, three of the five councilmen — Joe Blocker, Mickey Rytman and JB Whitten — had concerns about raising revenue.

UNSUSTAINABLE

Roy said by maintaining the current millage rate, the city general fund incomewould increase only $5,113 in 2015-16. The city can no longer transfer money from the utility fund to sustain the general fund, she said.

"The utility fund itself is not going to have those funds to transfer," Roy said. "We have not raised utility rates since 1993. We have one of the lowest water rates in the county."

Public Works Director Wayne Steele said without money in reserves, the city would be in dire straits if a disaster were to strike.

"How can we get funding to keep going when (Hurricane) Ivan comes again?" Steele asked. "When it came, it cost us $895,000. We had that money in reserves. What are we going to do if that happens to us this year or next year?"

Steele said that previous councils have been reluctant to make difficult decisions to raise needed revenue when presented with similar warnings that the city could face difficulties.

"They wanted to do what we could do to just get by," he said. “Some tough decisions have to be made.”

POOR RESIDENTS SHIELDED

Following the consultants’ recommendation, Councilman Bill Cox proposed modest increases in water and sewer rates he said could raise more than $475,000.

Whitten said the fire assessment fee would be a deterrent to expanding or attracting businesses and may drive small companies out of business or cause them to lay off employees.

When Rytman said proposed increases would hurt low-income residents, Council President Shannon Hayes said the fire assessment included provisions for low-income people to request fee reductions or waivers.

"If we have someone on a fixed income…they're going to be hurting at the end of the year," Rytman said.

"These are the same answers we've been getting for last three or four years," Steele said. "I'm sympathetic. I can make more cuts but I can't provide the same service."

MORE SERVICES NEEDED

Citing Growth Management Department reports saying more subdivisions are being planned, especially in the Old Bethel Road area, Fire Chief Joe Traylor said an additional fire station, firefighters and fire trucks will be needed to maintain the required four-minute response time to the area.

The fire assessment fee offers a means to plan and save for such future investments in equipment and infrastructure, he said.

Police Chief Tony Taylor said the reports indicate thousands of new residents will move to Crestview as the new developments are completed. His department will need more officers and equipment to meet the demand.

"We're either moving forward or we're moving backwards. There is no status quo," Taylor said. "Our contingencies have all been depleted, leaving us vulnerable if a catastrophe should occur. We can't continue on this downward spiral."

"No one likes tax increases or added fees but on the other hand, no one wants to lose services," Taylor said.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview city department heads: revenue increase is needed now (VIDEO)

TALLAHASSEE — Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) released the following statement after receiving an “A” on the Florida Chamber’s 2015 Legislative Report Card.

“I am proud to receive such a high ranking from the Florida Chamber which is reflective of my commitment to further Florida’s pro-business environment by reducing regulations and the burden of government on Florida businesses,” said Senator Evers. “Everyone knows that the private sector creates jobs and opportunities for Floridians – not government. I look forward to continuing to work with the Florida Chamber to make the Sunshine State the best place for business and the perfect opportunity for those seeking employment.”

The Florida Chamber’s Legislative Report Card shares grades legislators earned based on their support of "pro-jobs, pro-business" issues during the annual legislative session, according to the website.

For more information on the 2015 Legislative Report Card, visit www.flchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Evers receives an 'A' on Florida Chamber Report Card

CRESTVIEW — The Confederate flag's fate may finally be settled.

The embattled William “Bill” Lundy Memorial on East First Avenue would relocate from its current location on city property, according to a new proposal.  

"The proposal includes the Lundy family taking possession of the memorial and moving it to private land … Details of the proposal have not been finalized," a media release from Mayor David Cadle's office stated.

Confederate flags on public property have been targeted since Dylann Roof, a white man, killed nine black people in mid-June at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.

Okaloosa County's ‎NAACP chapter called for the Crestview flag's removal after the shooting, claiming the flag represents racism and promotes division.

Crestview resident Amanda Kay collected signatures to keep the flag. Supporters claimed the flag honors Lundy, whom many believe was Florida's last surviving Confederate soldier when the Crestview Lions Club established the memorial in 1958.

The city initially scheduled a public meeting about the flag's fate for Tuesday, but canceled it upon receiving the Lundy family's proposal.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Confederate flag to relocate

LAUREL HILL— City Council Chairman Larry Hendren says the city has started a list of residents’ questions about proposed dissolution.

Residents may submit questions about what impact dissolving Laurel Hill as an incorporated city would have on individuals.

"One that comes off the top of my head, is what happened to another city,” Hendren said. “When the city dissolved, the street lights went out.”

Send questions to City Clerk Nita Miller, City Hall, 8209 Highway 85 N., Laurel Hill FL  32567, 652-4441, or clhclerk@fairpoint.net.

City officials are exploring possibly turning government functions over to Okaloosa County. Laurel Hill citizens would have to vote in favor of the proposal, and dissolution wouldn’t occur for several years.

Laurel Hill, Okaloosa County’s first city, was incorporated in 1905.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill welcomes residents' questions about proposed dissolution

 Ten candidates qualified for an election to determine two Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Personnel Standards and Review Board members.Additional candidates qualifying by the June 30 deadline are: Christopher Hyden, Laurel Hill; Becky Lynn Jones, Valparaiso; Martin White, Niceville; and Steven Menchel, Destin.

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CRESTVIEW — Six candidates qualify for an election to determine two Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Personnel Standards and Review Board members.

They are  Johnny Eubanks, Crestview; Bill Byerley, Shalimar; Howard Oakes and Joseph Sharpe, both of Niceville;  Noble Wyninegar Jr., Fort Walton Beach; and Joseph Winkeler, Destin.

Elected members — serving alongside two appointees by Sheriff Larry Ashley and a fifth member chosen by the four — will hear the appeals of former deputies Rick Hord, John Lee and Jon Bush, who were fired in 2010.

Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux will conduct the election at his Crestview and Fort Walton Beach offices. OCSO employees can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 14 on both ends of the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: UPDATE: Candidates selected for Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office appeals board

LAUREL HILL — It was a case of déjà vu all over again when the City Council deadlocked on selection of a new councilwoman to fill the seat vacated by Johnny James.

Former councilwomen Joan Smith and Willie Mae Toles both submitted applications for the vacant spot, having lost the March election to current Council Members Debra Adams and Scott Moneypenny.

Smith was also a previous Laurel Hill mayor.

Adams moved to appoint Toles to fill the vacancy, with Councilman Daniel Lane joining her in favor of the motion. Moneypenny and Council Chairman Larry Hendren voted nay.

Moneypenny then nominated Smith, with Hendren also voting for his motion and Adams and Lane opposed.

With the council deadlocked, both motions failed, leaving the seat vacant.

The city council spent more than a year deadlocked over filling a vacant seat in 2014 and the early part of this year until voters put Adams and Moneypenny in office.

However, James' eligibility was called into question when it was determined he lived outside the city limits and he was forced to step down, once again leaving an open seat on the body.

Hendren said the council will take up the issue again at next month's meeting.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill City Council deadlocks on new member — again

LAUREL HILL— The City Council unanimously approved setting a 3.5 mills millage rate for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The rate is unchanged from this year. By law, once it is established, the millage rate cannot be raised during budget planning, although it can be lowered.

One mill is $1 of tax per thousand dollars of taxable property value.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill millage rate to remain unchanged for 2015-16