County Proposes $25.3M tax increase
After leveling off last year following 4 years of decline, property values seem to have turned a corner and have ticked up 3.7% this year, easing pressure on county and municipal budgets. As the county has cranked up the millage rate as the valuations fell, will they now start to decrease them? Apparently not. The June budget package, to be discussed at the first hearing next Tuesday at 6:00pm, proposes an increase in the millage from 4.7815 to 4.8164. This would generate $624.9 million - $25.3M or 4.2% more than last years adopted tax of about $600M. ...
County Administrator Bob Weisman’s Outlook for 2014 Budget
On Thursday March 28, the County Budget Task Force of the Town of Palm Beach, a TAB coalition partner, chaired by Mayor Gail Coniglio, hosted County Administrator Bob Weisman, OFMB Director Liz Bloeser and Budget Director John Wilson for some insight into the coming budget cycle. Robert Weisman After several years of increasing millage, last year was significant in that the millage was unchanged, and the slight (0.7%) uptick in valuations after 5 years of declines yielded a few million more in revenue. Although it is still early, the departments have not done their budget estimates, and the Sheriff (2/3 ...
Final 2013 Budget Adopted
Last evening, at the final hearing on the 2013 county budget, a 4.7815 millage rate was adopted, unchanged from last year. Compared to the contentious budgets of the last three years, where rates went up 14.9%, 9.3% and 0.7% respectively, this was a pleasant change. Missing was the Kubuki dance by the program constituents whose perogatives were threatened, the standoffs between the Administrator and the Sheriff, and battles with taxpayer advocates over the millage rate, the use of reserves, and the potential sale of county property to make ends meet. Some funds were even restored to address road maintenance ...
Throwing good money after bad – Convention Center headlines from cities across the country – Part 2 of 3
This is the second in a three-part series about Convention Centers and HQ Hotels. The first two entries cover the general topic of publicly subsidized Convention Centers. The third will be a specific look at what is being proposed for Palm Beach County's Convention Center HQ Hotel to examine the 'induced' demand and perhaps ask some questions that we wished the County Commission had asked. What is different about Palm Beach County/West Palm Beach versus most of the other cities listed is the apparent lack of opposition amongst the Commissioners and WPB City Council, as well as ...
Some Background to the Mecca Farms Proposal
As the BCC considers the possible sale of the Mecca Farms property to the South Florida Water Management District, it is useful to consider the history of this site, and its relationship to the Vavrus Ranch which is just now being considered for development. (See: Blockbuster deal for Vavrus Ranch in the works) The 1919 acre Mecca Farms, initially the preferred site for the Scripps Biotech industrial park, was to be accompanied by a residential development on the adjacent Vavrus ranch, presumably a "science ghetto" where the Scripps employees and their families would buy houses. Pushed by then Governor ...
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County Proposes $25.3M tax increaseJune 4, 2013
After leveling off last year following 4 years of decline, property values seem to have turned a corner and have ticked up 3.7% this year, easing pressure on county and municipal budgets. As the county has cranked up the millage rate as the valuations fell, will they now start to decrease them? Apparently...
County Administrator Bob Weisman’s Outlook for 2014 BudgetMarch 28, 2013
On Thursday March 28, the County Budget Task Force of the Town of Palm Beach, a TAB coalition partner, chaired by Mayor Gail Coniglio, hosted County Administrator Bob Weisman, OFMB Director Liz Bloeser and Budget Director John Wilson for some insight into the coming budget cycle. Robert Weisman After...
Final 2013 Budget AdoptedSeptember 25, 2012
Last evening, at the final hearing on the 2013 county budget, a 4.7815 millage rate was adopted, unchanged from last year. Compared to the contentious budgets of the last three years, where rates went up 14.9%, 9.3% and 0.7% respectively, this was a pleasant change. Missing was the Kubuki dance by the...
Throwing good money after bad – Convention Center headlines from cities across the country – Part 2 of 3August 22, 2012
This is the second in a three-part series about Convention Centers and HQ Hotels. The first two entries cover the general topic of publicly subsidized Convention Centers. The third will be a specific look at what is being proposed for Palm Beach County’s Convention Center HQ Hotel to examine...
Some Background to the Mecca Farms ProposalAugust 13, 2012
As the BCC considers the possible sale of the Mecca Farms property to the South Florida Water Management District, it is useful to consider the history of this site, and its relationship to the Vavrus Ranch which is just now being considered for development. (See: Blockbuster deal for Vavrus Ranch...
A County Funded Hotel – Who Wins?July 24, 2012
Related Stories TAB: Our view last April Palm Beach Post Sun Sentinel WPEC Today the County Commission voted 6-1 to allocate $57M ($27M direct subsidy plus $20M loan guarantee plus $10M cost of the land) toward a 400 room hotel next to the Convention Center. The county would actually own both the...
The July Budget Package – What Has Changed?July 7, 2012
On Tuesday, July 10, the Commissioners will set the proposed maximum millage rate based on the July budget package prepared by staff, which recommends keeping the county-wide millage flat at 4.7815. The agenda item will be discussed on Tuesday, July 10, at 2:15pm (time certain) in the county building...
Palm Beach County is not WisconsinJune 28, 2012
On Tuesday, a sea of yellow shirts packed the commission chambers. None of the shirt wearers, who are members of IAFF local 2928 as well as employees of County Fire Rescue, took the podium to speak. That wasn’t why they were there. As acting union President Ricky Grau spoke in favor of “three...
County Commission Forum – District 1 Primary CandidatesJune 20, 2012
On June 18, eight grassroots, civic and political clubs came together to sponsor a candidate debate for the County Commission District 1 primary on August 14. Moderated by local radio personality Tom Boyhan, the three candidates were asked six questions of county-wide interest, chosen from a list of...
TAB View of 2013 County Budget ProposalJune 5, 2012
In preparation for the first budget workshop of the 2013 cycle next week, the county has published their proposal. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, June 12 at 6:00pm in the county building at 301 N. Olive, WPB. Unlike the last few years which Administrator Weisman has called “the most difficult...