State of the City
From Mayor Mark Sheldon The City Council prioritizes policies and projects to make this community the best it can be. The daily work of implementing policies and projects falls on our almost 400 employees who work tirelessly to make sure that you have all you need to enjoy every aspect of our paradise. In 2020 the City adopted its first strategic plan, with an aim of creating and maintaining a safe, family-friendly, vibrant community with an outstanding quality of life. Priorities for 2021-26 were identified and I’d like to both review and update you on our accomplishments. Priority One is Financial Health: This City Council is committed to fiscal responsibility, accountability, and transparency. Our capital plans for the next several years are ambitious, but aren’t dependent on property taxes, as the city has no personal property tax. Our City budget, the largest yet, plans for growth but relies heavily on grants and other restricted revenue streams. In 2021-22, the City received 13 grants for stormwater outfall and drainage projects, septic-to-sewer conversions, streetlighting repairs, and more. Some grant projects are under construction, such as CRA lighting repairs and a fire training tower, and others are in the design stage. We have federal and state lobbyists to ensure our community gets its fair share of public dollars. Last year these efforts began to pay off; we meet regularly with key lawmakers and departments in Washington D.C. and Tallahassee. In 2022, we kicked off a multi-year process to implement a City-wide software...
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