Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Ballot language is very important.


Do you want trees planted along Dixie Hwy. for “Beautification”?

Great idea.

But it’s not going to happen with money from the City of Lake Worth’s Neighborhood Road Bond or from the County’s ¢1 Sales Tax increase either.

If you try to force the issue and get trees planted on Dixie Hwy. using this money, as per City Attorney Glen Torcivia, the City will end up in court and that, “is not where you want to be.”

The voters in this City of Lake Worth didn’t
approve a $40M bond for trees.


The voters in Palm Beach County didn’t approve raising the sales tax for trees either. Torcivia cited Florida Statute 212.055; it’s very specific what this money can be used for.

The answer to Dixie Hwy. beautification is not waiting for “money from above”. The answer is to try and get creative and seek other funding sources, e.g., grants, donations, and contact philanthropic organizations as well. And don’t forget, Dixie Hwy. is controlled by FDOT (another bureaucracy), not the City of Lake Worth.

Ballot language (“questions”) for Lake Worth Neighborhood Road Bond and County ¢1 Sales Tax.


Please read both of these ballot questions very carefully. They both passed convincingly. This information would be good to know when you come before the City Commission (or a City board) with your next great idea.

November 8th [2016] General Election. Voters will be asked to either vote for, or against, authorizing the City of Lake Worth to issue a forty million dollar bond exclusively for the purpose of improving our neighborhood streets.

Shall the City be authorized to issue general obligation bonds for the exclusive purpose of improving local roadways and eliminating potholes in an amount not to exceed forty million dollars, payable from annual ad valorem taxes maturing no later than thirty years from the date of each issuance and bearing interest at a rate not exceeding the maximum legal rate with all expenditures reviewed by a citizens advisory committee?

PALM BEACH COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOLS, CITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ONE-CENT SALES SURTAX

To enhance education by improving district-owned school buildings, equipment, technology and security; purchase school buses, public safety vehicles and equipment; and equip, construct and repair roads, bridges, signals, streetlights, sidewalks, parks, drainage, shoreline and wastewater infrastructure, recreational and governmental facilities; shall the County levy a one-cent sales surtax beginning January 1, 2017 and automatically ending on or before December 31, 2026, with independent oversight by citizen committees?

Questions anyone?