Monday, August 23, 2010

Most municipalities leaning toward raising tax rates

Click title for link to Palm Beach Post article.  The key paragraph which jumped from the article was this one

Lake Worth approved the steepest increase. The city set a tentative tax rate of $6.24 for each $1,000 of taxable value, a 24.8 percent jump over last year's rate. Lake Worth commissioners have said, however, that they hope to trim the budget enough to lower their rate before it gets final approval in next month.

Another local blogger chooses to whistle by the graveyard.  And, apparently, so does the City Commission, Mayor and the city administration.  The entire budget document and transmittal letter was designed to break the unions and force them into concessions that they are likely not going to want to give.  So while the initial headlines were that there would be no lay-offs and no increase in taxes, let's just wait and see if that will be the case or not.  The proposed budget assumed union and sheriff department cuts.

And then we have the city screaming poor while lending itself $6 million to rehabilitate the casino building and get on with the beach project.  What is wrong with this picture?

This is the result of the failed policies of much the current commission - don't go blaming past commissions.  Where is the new investment - private investment, not public - in Lake Worth?  Where are the jobs?  

We seem to have lots of affordable housing.