Flat millage at 5.55 and Outdoor Seating Improvements Passed

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The Sept 22 PBG City Council meeting began with remarks by Police Chief Clint Shannon, honoring the four Police Explorers who participated in the annual Florida Association of Police Explorers competition.  Palm Beach Gardens won first overall, as well as placing well in specific challenges.  The City’s team competed against 20 other Explorer Posts from around the state.

Mayor Litt then segued to the topic of the night, the setting of the millage rate and the FY 2021/2022 Budget.  Apparently nerves were struck when the Palm Beach Post questioned sources of funding for the new golf course and/or residents suggested that flat millage in a time of increasing values is a tax increase.  So prior to the actual resolution and ordinance discussions, the Mayor described the City’s various reserves, the use of Cares Act funding, the usage made of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, and how much of what the City accomplished in giving back to business and residents came from the City’s reserves.  The Mayor has posted her commentary on Facebook.

Resolution 36, 2021 – Adopting the Tax Levy and Millage Rate – comprised the bulk of the discussion by Council.  Council Members Tinsley and Marciano, as they did at the first hearing, asked the Council to consider a minor reduction in millage to 5.50 to give back to the taxpayers.  Mayor Litt, Vice Mayor Reed and Council Member Woods again insisted that they were NOT raising taxes*, that they were giving back to the people and businesses that the City determined really needed it in the midst of a pandemic, highlighted the importance of  a ‘stable’ tax rate, and were disappointed that Palm Beach Gardens was not lauded for keeping millage flat, while nearby Lake Park was. (* when property valuations go up and millage remains flat, the $$ you pay in taxes goes up – thus it is a tax increase, however modest).  The vote on the millage was 3:2 with Tinsley/Marciano voting NO.  See the Palm Beach Post article on the discussion in their article entitled “Palm Beach Gardens narrowly passes budget, OKs using federal grant to help build golf course”

Ordinance 8, 2021 – Adopts the Budget for FY 2021/2022 – no further discussion as the issue was not with the Budget.  Vote 5:0

Ordinance 10, 2021 – 2nd Reading and Adoption of the modifications to Outdoor Seating and related parking requirements which passed 5:0 on first hearing. Vote – 5:0

Next month Nick Uhren, Executive Director of the Palm Beach TPA will be giving a presentation about Mobility