City’s Millage Lowered to 5.32%

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The new tax-rate was lowered to 5.32% and the new Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget raises about $7.8M in new taxes, up a 10.9% over last year’s adopted budget. Both the millage and new budget were approved/adopted on 2nd hearing 5:0 on Sept 22 after being also approved 5:0 at the Sept 8th initial City Council Meeting. Council Member Marciano, with the most in-depth city budget experience on the Council, has long sought to lower millage over the last several years and was pleased to finally have it happen in his last term.

While homesteaded properties will see lowered tax bills, those in non-homesteaded properties will see increases. Budget details can be viewed here.

 

 

 

 

 

The ten-year financial forecast assumes flat millage at the new 5.32%. Also of note is that there is no debt service millage and none assumed in the forecast.

Other items from the two September meetings:

• • Resolution 52, 2022 – passed 5:0 on 9/8 – approving and ratifying a collective bargaining agreement with the Police Benevolent Association for Police Officers, Sergeants, and Communications Operators employed by the City’s Police Department for Fiscal Years 2023- 2025.
  • Consent Agendas for both meetings passed 5:0

• • Public Comment
    • 9/8 – Two residents requested waivers regarding screening for roof-top a/c units. Their information was collected by staff;
    • Terence Davis, candidate for Florida House District 94 introduced himself
    • 9/22 – Tom Cairnes of the Gardens Mall, and PGA Corridor, spoke about upcoming PGA Corridor events

• City Manager Report:
  • 9/8 – National Suicide Prevention Month – a campaign to raise awareness called ‘Card My Yard‘ has placed various encouraging signage around the City
  • 9/22 – For the next two weekends there will be construction at the PGA Blvd entrance to the Turnpike in order to remove the toll booths. See details here.
• Items for Council Discussion:
  • • 9/8 – All on the council apparently received an email requesting a dog park for PGA National – discussion ensued regarding the difficulties and liabilities associated with dog parks. City Manager Ferris suggested the all wait until they see how the renovations at the Lilac Park dog park work out, specifically the artificial turf, and then raise the topic again in the future.
• City Attorney Lohman, on 9/8, gave a brief update on the suit between Palm Beach County and PBG regarding Mobility Fees and said that the City did not request oral argument.