We talk a lot about revenue and expenses in the Town of Oakland, especially during budget season. As part of our planning process for the upcoming year’s budget, we held a workshop on July 23, 2019 and I am happy to report that we are planning to lower our ad valorem taxes from 6.65 to 6.50 mils.  This is the second year in a row that we have honored our commitment to lower our town ad valorem taxes year over year.

Going forward we will be holding two budget hearings on Monday, September 9, 2019 and Tuesday, September 24, 2019 to further discuss and approve the budgets for the Town, charter school and utilities.  These hearings will be held in the Oakland Meeting Hall, located at 221 N. Arrington Street at 6:30 p.m. In advance of the hearings all the budget information, including an overview explanation, can be found on our website at https://oaklandfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232019-375 (budget and cover memo start on page 169) and https://oaklandfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232019-377 (Town Manager budget presentation to the Town Commission).  These meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend!

Our next regular Commission meeting is on August 13, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the Oakland Meeting Hall. We will have an announcement that is very exciting for the Town and we will also hear about our audit from last year’s budget and our financial processes.  This audit is our “report card” conducted by an independent audit firm that looks at how we handle our budgets, finances and processes.  They report out each year to the Commission and their findings are filed with the State of Florida.

As always, our agendas, with all supporting documentation, are posted on our website the Thursday before the Commission Meeting and the agenda is posted by the post office.  I hope to see you at our next Commission Meeting!

Regards,

Kathy Stark, Mayor