The Finance Department ensures the financial stability of the City by managing the financial functions in a cost-efficient manner. The department is responsible for all financial activities, including maintaining all financial records, processing Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payables, and Payroll. The Finance Department is instrumental in the preparation of information required for the yearly financial audit; assists the City Manager in the preparation of the fiscal year budget, and works with each department to stay within budget parameters.
Finance Director, Rachel Gosselin brings over 10 years of experience within municipal government to the City. Rachael graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Master’s Degree in Accounting, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, with a minor in Economics. Ms. Gosselin began her local government career at the City of Nashua, New Hampshire, where she assisted in the implementation of a large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project and the facilitation of document management software. Rachael has also served on the local government training committee and was an active member of the NH Municipal Association and the New England States Government Finance Officers Association. Rachael later served as the Finance Officer for the Town of Hollis, facilitating a refinance of municipal bonds, streamlining processes, and fully utilizing their accounting software. Ms. Gosselin is currently an active member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association and continues to expand her knowledge by attending pertinent professional development and training courses.
Rachael Gosselin, Finance Director
(727) 835-1268
Shawna Pateiro, Finance Specialist
(727) 835-0969
Budget Preparation and State Compliance
A main responsibilities of the Finance and Revenue Department is to prepare the fiscal year budget. The City’s fiscal year begins on October 1 of each year and ends on September 30 of the following year.
Per Florida Statute, the governing body of each municipality shall adopt a budget each fiscal year. The budget must be adopted by ordinance or resolution unless otherwise specified in the respective municipality’s charter. The amount available from taxation and other sources, including balances brought forward from prior fiscal years, must equal the total appropriations for expenditures and reserves. At a minimum, the adopted budget must show for each fund, as required by law and sound financial practices, budgeted revenues and expenditures by organizational unit which are at least at the level of detail required for the annual financial report under s. 218.32(1). The adopted budget must regulate expenditures of the municipality, and an officer of a municipal government may not expend or contract for expenditures in any fiscal year except pursuant to the adopted budget.
The tentative budget must be posted on the municipality’s official website at least 2 days before the budget hearing, held pursuant to s. 200.065 or other law, to consider such budget and must remain on the website for at least 45 days. The final adopted budget must be posted on the municipality’s official website within 30 days after adoption and must remain on the website for at least 2 years.
Please click on the link below to view the FY23/24 Proposed Budget.