- November 15, 2024
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On April 15, town commissioners met for a strategic planning retreat in preparation for the next fiscal year. The retreat was the next phase in budget preparations and a period of long-range planning for the town.
Previously, the town collected input from the citizen satisfaction survey and a public workshop with community organizations. The feedback provided from those methods helped drive some of the conversations at the April 15 workshop.
From the survey, the town noted that respondents had several common issues that were important for the town to address in the coming years, including beach management, sea-level rise, canal dredging and street flooding.
Town Manager Howard Tipton also introduced some of the budget talks, first by providing an overview of some budget positives.
The fiscal year 2023 change in fund balance was up $2.9 million as of Tipton’s presentation. That included $2.2 million in excess reserves and $750,000 in capital reserve.
The town continues to actively pursue grants, Tipton mentioned, which are important for projects like the drainage improvements in Sleepy Lagoon, Buttonwood and the Village.
Additionally, Tipton said the opening of the St. Regis Longboat Key is a budget positive on the horizon.
But, there are some budget challenges that Tipton expressed to commissioners. First is to figure out a method for funding the canal maintenance program. Also included in the challenges was an increase in the cost for the town’s subaqueous force main project, which increased the cost by about $8 million.
Insurance rates and inflation in general continue to be at the forefront of budget challenges as well, Tipton added.
With budget in mind, Tipton walked commissioners through a chart of long-term issues that the town will address from 2024 through 2032. The presentation focused on 2024-2025.
The burying of utilities wasn’t a part of the discussion because the project will hopefully be completed this year, Tipton said. At the least, everything will be energized by the end of the year, he said.
Drainage improvement projects for Sleepy Lagoon, Buttonwood and the Village will advance through design in 2025, and, pending funding, the Norton Street project will begin construction.
The town’s canal maintenance dredging program received a resurvey in March, and Tipton said an update on that will be presented to commissioners in June before furthering the discussion around funding and methodology for the program.
For the Town Center Phase 3, the remainder of 2024 will be spent focusing on fundraising and working toward the final design. In 2025, design and permitting are slated to wrap up and construction could begin if applicable.
The Broadway roundabout is currently going through a redesign, and the Country Club Shores left turn lane project should be constructed in 2024. Then, in 2025, construction of the Broadway roundabout could be on its way, depending on funding.
Tipton also mentioned that the Recreation Center at Bayfront Park is an opportunity down the road.
“The rec center at Bayfront Park is one that’s going to last a few more years, but it is on our agenda, on our radar, to look to replace,” Tipton said.
The commission approved design money to get a rough idea this year, but Tipton said staff wants to be mindful of not competing with the Sarasota County library if extra fundraising is needed for the rec center.
For now, any rec center improvements are a little ways away, but commissioners suggested maybe this would be another opportunity for Sarasota County to invest back into Longboat Key.
On the topic of space, Tipton said town staff began considering the need for more space for employees in the future.
“If we were to add additional positions, we are rapidly running out of space in town hall,” Tipton said.
Tipton said the town tries to be flexible with employees who could work remotely or share an office space, but it's at a point where it will be an “interesting conversation,” he said.
For example, there is no conference room in Public Works, and Tipton said meetings in that building often have to take place in the break room where staff are trying to have some downtime.
The next step in the strategic planning process is the first budget workshop for fiscal year 2024-2025. That will take place on May 20. A second budget workshop will be on June 17.
