Same Old Budget Hearing But Innovations on Outdoor Restaurant Seating

September 11, 2021

The City Council held its first FY 2021/2022 Budget Hearing.  Despite compelling arguments from both Council Members Marciano and Tinsley to slightly lower the proposed millage to 5.50 from 5.55, Mayor Litt, Vice-Mayor Reed and Council Member Woods voted to raise taxes. As has been the same every year, since 2015 – which is the last time millage was lowered, various council members pride themselves on holding taxes flat. Except in rare times of flat or lowering valuations, this is UNTRUE. Flat millage with raising valuations is A TAX INCREASE. Scoffing at the concept of a discussion over savings to the hypothetical house valued at $450K of $20, they seemed to forget that the money comes from the people, and as Marciano said (and has said in the past) – the purpose of the city government is not to be a bank. This is our money. Public comment was made by resident Mary Lynn Manning requesting that the millage be set to the rollback rate. She added that while understanding that the city had no oversight of the schools, that without first rate schools the outstanding city would be lacking. That said – the final vote to keep millage flat was 4:1 with Council Member Marciano voting No. Ordinance 8, 2021, approving the proposed budget on first hearing passed 5:0.

September 8

Read Joel Englehardt’s On Gardens Post entitled Palm Beach Gardens Tax Revolt Fails by One Vote, for a blow by blow description of the budget portion of the meeting. Here is also a link to Finance Director Allan Owens’ presentation.

Ordinance 10, 2021 introduced a proposal, presented by Martin Fitts, Principal Planner, planning division, to modernize and streamline the process for outdoor restaurant seating and related parking requirements. The public’s preferences for outdoor dining choices as a result of Covid-19 and different types of dining venues, led the City to review it’s current policies. The current process to request outdoor seating by administrative petition takes about 4 weeks and costs $550. The proposed process would be a permit process costing $150 with more liberal options for the restaurants and their locations. The proposal was met with strong approval by the council. The primary concern was to make sure that restaurants affected by the current procedures expiring on Sept 30 be informed and be allowed sufficient time to qualify under the new permitting process. Planning and Zoning Director Natalie Crowley assured the council that everyone would be informed and she praised Mr. Fitts for his work. The ordinance passed 5:0

Other business:

The next council meeting will be held on Wednesday September 22 at 6pm – primarily as the 2nd Reading and Adoption of the millage and the FY 2021/2022 Budget.