Century Council Approves $5.1 Million Budget At Public Forum…With No Public

September 16, 2014

The Town of Century Monday night gave final approval to a budget for the next fiscal year that’s up about 16 percent over this year and $2.2 million greater than the previous budget year.

The approval came after a public forum…with no member of the public present. There was no one but our NorthEscambia.com staff in the audience for the budget meeting and entire regular council meeting that followed.  It’s extremely rare for no members of the public to attend a regular council meeting in Century.

Seats were also empty at the council table without two of five members. Council members Jackson McMurray Jackson and Annie Savage did not attend the meeting.

The town council approved a $5,107,641.34 budget for 2014-2015 that is up $722,850 over the current fiscal year. The increase is due to grant income and expenditures included in the budget of $2,280,296. To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here.

There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2014-2015, which begins October 1. The millage rate set was  .8707, which is equal to and does not exceed the rolled-back rate.

Pictured top: The Century Town Council chambers were empty Monday night for a budget public hearing and regular council meeting. Pictured:  The Century Council meets Monday night to approve a $5.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “Century Council Approves $5.1 Million Budget At Public Forum…With No Public”

  1. S'.taylor on September 21st, 2014 3:23 am

    What do they do with money
    Century looks the saying no improvement.
    just run down homes, no jobs no schools.

  2. what's really happen on September 17th, 2014 9:44 pm

    oooooh my let the chairs say amen………

  3. Marie on September 17th, 2014 2:12 pm

    Looks like they did their homework and have a good handle on the issues with no need for comments from the peanut gallery.

  4. Dennis HE Wiggins on September 17th, 2014 10:50 am

    I’m gonna have to agree with most of the comments thus far. Seems that the majority of the time I read about the Century City Council meetings in the paper or on NorthEscambia.com, it comes down to “we hear you, but we’re not listening.” Why bother going if that’s all your gonna get anyway?

  5. William on September 16th, 2014 10:02 pm

    >>Did they announce the meeting to the public weeks in advanced by newspaper and by the web ?

    They don’t exactly have to do it that way, in most cases. But yes. legal notices ran about the budget hearings (including on NorthEscambia.com) plus it was a regular, always happens council meeting on the second Monday of the month.

    It was just a really, really strange thing that no one was at a regular meeting. Century has 5-6 “citizens that attend most meetings, plus visitors from time to time.

  6. sam on September 16th, 2014 9:51 pm

    don’t need to go. if there is something i need or don’t like i know where they are and will let them know. one of the nice things about a small community. besides i trust em.

  7. Jim on September 16th, 2014 9:48 pm

    Did they announce the meeting to the public weeks in advanced by newspaper and by the web ? It is required by law that they give an annoucement in advanced.

  8. Hard times on September 16th, 2014 9:17 pm

    How much of that 5.1 million will be for city workers pay increase O I know non zero not one red cent . Thank u Century for having the lowest paid city workers in the state !!! So when you see them blue trucks show them men some kindness they only make about $10 to $15 a hour

  9. Warrior Kelt on September 16th, 2014 8:34 pm

    In the Internet age, it is not necessary to be there in person. You can review the budget in its tentative form before hand on the northescambia.com website from Sept 9th. The council members have public emails and phone numbers you can use to ask for clarifications or complain during the following week leading up to final approval.

    There is no tax increase or millage increase. Spending increased funded by grants. So why would anybody need to be there for the meeting?

    The first person from Century to gripe here will get the logical follow up question: “Why weren’t you at the meeting, then?”

  10. David Huie Green on September 16th, 2014 2:25 pm

    Trust

  11. Ulysses Evertte McGill on September 16th, 2014 7:16 am

    Politicians love it when the masses fail to hold them accountable.

  12. molinoman on September 16th, 2014 6:15 am

    Why bother going? From everything I’ve been reading on here for years Century City Council does what they are gonna do anyway despite public opinion. So I’d rather sit home and watch TV.

  13. 429SCJ on September 16th, 2014 6:02 am

    They have all given up hope.