A blog post from yesterday . . .

FYI: Tonight is the night. Marking the end of another Budget Season. Following the Roll Call at 6:00 at the start of the meeting will be a choice for one of the electeds on the City Commission: A prayer or a moment of silence.

Considering the significance of this public meeting the choice may be harder than you think. After reading about the millage rate in the blog post below scroll back up and click on this link to learn more about the choice of prayer or silence and how to download tomorrow’s agenda as well.

Question: FY2019 and beyond. Should the City of Lake Worth make lowering the millage rate a top priority?

Lowering the millage rate in the years ahead to keep up with the competition? One of our competitors is the Village of Palm Springs and that is explained at the end of this blog post, a news report in The Lake Worth Herald.

The idea of lowering the millage rate was first brought up by Commissioner Scott Maxwell in August 2017 starting with a 0.25 mil reduction. However, commissioners Andy Amoroso (now the Vice Mayor), Herman C. Robinson and Omari Hardy — after considering the proposal in further discussion — all became resolute. With so many budgetary unknown unknowns and known knowns thought this year or next year may be the time to discuss the possibility of lowering the millage rate.

And then along came Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

What is the reasoning for lowering the millage rate? It would send a strong message that this City is on strong budgetary ground.

Some of you may find the news from the Village of Palm Springs a bit of a shock. As reported in The Lake Worth Herald, our neighboring village to the west has lowered its operating millage rate for six (6) consecutive years. The last time the City of Lake Worth lowered its millage rate was way back in 2007, according to Commissioner Maxwell.

The proposal by Maxwell might have gotten more momentum last year but the mayor was absent for this meeting and Commissioner Herman C. Robinson was adamant that it was “not the right time” to lower the rate and then along came Irma and Maxwell’s proposal to lower the millage rate was tabled.

And this year the general mood on the Commission is to be prepared for another “rainy day” on the horizon vis-à-vis hardening the Lake Worth Electric Utility. And also this year the topic of increasing compensation for City employees and staff is a very big one. And, of course, there are all those issues (or ‘schemes’) at the Lake Worth Beach and Casino Complex as well.

But what about next year? Follow in
the footsteps of Palm Springs?

The Village of Palm Springs is a wonderful neighbor. Every city in Florida would be proud to have such a great neighbor as Palm Springs. They are a neighbor; but they are also a competitor for new businesses and new residents. The millage rate matters.

Remember, per Commissioner Maxwell there hasn’t been a lowering of the millage rate in 10 years here in this City. Lowering the rate would send a strong signal to Realtors, investors, and those considering relocating to Central Palm Beach County in the future.

If this topic does come up expect a lot of lively debate. Hopefully the healthy and informative type. 

Meet your mayor and commissioners in Districts 1–4:

Now to the news about the Village of Palm Springs as reported in The Lake Worth Herald. . .

This front page news was headlined,

Palm Springs Property Tax Rate Lowered
for 6th Year in a Row!

Residents of the Village of Palm Springs will once again see a reduction in the operating millage rate. For the sixth consecutive year, the Village Council has voted unanimously to set the preliminary property tax rate to 3.5 mils. The rate has been reduced each of the last five years, dropping from 3.9 to this year’s proposed rate of 3.5.

and. . .

     The taxable valuation for the Village’s general obligation debt is $1,223,909,135 requiring a proposed millage rate of .3777. The combined proposed millage rates for FY2019 is 3.8777 or  .1785 mils below the FY2018 rate.
     Village Council will be presented the final rate during the September Council meeting. The proposed rate may be lowered by council but it cannot be increased. [emphasis added]


So. In conclusion, do you think this City “needs to send a message” and get the attention of the business and real estate community?

If this topic does come up you can contact your elected representatives and tell them what you think. And whilst you are communicating with your elected leadership you can ask, instead of complaining like too many other people do, ask this question instead:

“What can I do to help?”