“We really fixed the bleeding hole of turnover in employees by doing that millage increase,” Councilmember Natalie Teuchert said. The raises were able to be given following approval of a nearly 4% increase in the tax rate in September. Following the wage increases, which were between 4% and 13% depending on the position, the city has lost only 12 people this fiscal year. Those wage differences led to the city losing 45 employees in fiscal year 2021 and an additional 40 in 2022. “We couldn’t even get people to apply for positions because folks who are really desperate out there in the private industry, they were offering just tremendous hourly wage rate increases just to attract people to apply for open positions.”

“One of the things that we found out about 18 months ago was that our wage structure was no longer competitive,” Boop said. The city kept a healthy general fund balance through a multitude of efforts, including increasing wages of city employees, cutting spending on certain events and paying off debt. The decline in the overall balance is due in part to continued Hurricane Ian relief funding and a legal hold, which could alter the total if the hold comes off the books. Work sessions are intended to inform the governing body. Boop expects a balance of nearly $9 million at the end of the fiscal year in Sept., significantly higher than the originally targeted $5.9 million, according to his presentation in the April 24 City Council working session. The general fund is how the city pays for basic daily and long-term services, such as operations and parks and recreation, and is funded through tax dollars. 30, according to Boop’s presentation at the April 17 City Council meeting. Planning for the worst helped the city retain a general fund balance of $14.9 million as of Sept. “You plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said.

Shrewd planning, however, has helped keep Oviedo in a relatively strong position with its spending ability. Additional increases in the cost of asphalt, cement and other construction materials have put a dent in the available budget.

Utility chemicals, which, prior to the spike in inflation cost the city between $500,000 and $1 million per year, have seen a 25% increase in price, according to Oviedo Finance Director Jerry Boop. The spike in inflation over the past two years has had significant effects on local government functions.

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