Two Budget Hearings result in 7.4% Increase in Property Tax Revenue
October 4, 2017
The City Council voted to hold operational millage flat at 5.55% at both Fiscal Year 2017/2018 Budget Hearings on September 7 and 25, 2017. Even for those on the Council who would have liked to reduce property taxes somehow they concluded that it looks worse to residents, and is worse to lower the tax rate now and then have to raise it later. Legislative issues, potential passage of the 2018 ballot question on additional homestead exemptions as well as need for reserves due to storm impacts, all weighed into the debate. See Taxes to rise for many in Palm Beach Gardens from the Post, which covers some of the Council’s rationale.
The Council meetings spanned Hurricane Irma. On the 7th, City Manager Ferris gave a detailed update on Storm Preparation and then on the 25th gave a summary of the actions taken to recover from the storm and bring the City back to full function as soon as possible.
The September 7th council meeting also passed 5:0 first readings on:
September 7, 2017- Ban of Medical Marijuana Treatment Facilities and Dispensaries
- Moratorium on Micro Wireless Facilities until December 31, 2017 – allowing regulations to be developed consistent with State statute
- Rearrangement of Floodplain Management Regulations
Also passed were:
- 2nd Reading and Adoption of Operation of Mobile Food Trucks
- Art in Public Places resolution for La Posada
- Approval of FPL Watts Substation on utility parcel at Alton
The September 25th council meeting featured a short presentation by Joseph St. Germain on the 2017 Resident Opinion Survey. The survey can be read in its entirety here and the Post has a short recap. The survey was quoted in several places in the budget documents to bolster rationale for future action plans.
Summaries by the council during Items of Resident Interest raised issues with recent (and expected) actions by the State Legislature that severely impact Home Rule.
Besides the adoption of the Tax Levy and Millage rate and the adoption of the FY 2017/2018 Budget, the council passed 2nd reading on the two ordinances related to the Floodplain Management Regulations 5:0.
The October 12th City Council meeting will feature the recommendations and report of the Charter Review Committee.