2014 County Budget – What To Expect
Next week, county staff will be unveiling their 2014 budget proposal to be discussed at the June 11 budget workshop at 6pm in the Commission Chambers. TAB will analyse the proposal when it is published, but what do we know now and what can we surmise? Property valuations are up this year by 3.7%, from $125.1B to $129.7B, according to Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits. See Tax base grows in Palm Beach County, 34 of its 38 cities. Using last year’s... [Read More...]
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... [Read More...]
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... [Read More...]
What’s Going On with Convention Centers and HQ Hotels? Part 1 of 3
This is the first 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... [Read More...]
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... [Read More...]
Commissioners Cap Millage at Last Year’s Levels
The 2:15pm time-certain item 5A3 to set maximum millage for 2013 didn’t get going until well past 3:30 – but it was short and to the point. County Administrator Weisman made it clear that the only topic that had to be discussed was the setting of maximum millage for the September hearings. No details of the budget need be addressed until then. He confirmed to Commissioner Aaronson that the current millage was 4.7815. Aaronson then... [Read More...]
The July Budget Package – What Has Changed?
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 at 301 N. Olive, WPB. This rate is an improvement over the small increase in millage that was proposed in June, reflecting increased valuation estimates... [Read More...]
TAB View of 2013 County Budget Proposal
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 budget year the county has faced”, bottoming valuations have created a less austere outlook. With the expectation of a barely perceptible... [Read More...]
BCC to Discuss $29M in Spending Reductions
At the Tuesday, May 15 Commission Meeting, agenda items 5a2 and 5a3 deal with an “efficiency audit” performed by consultants Gerstle, Rosen & Goldenberg at the request of county administration. The audit found areas of significant savings, both in county operations and in the constitutional offices (except the Sheriff who evidently refused to answer any of their questions), estimated in the range of $29M. They looked in four areas:... [Read More...]
TAB Opposes Sales Tax Increase
Staff requests direction on implementation of a “Charter County and Regional Transportation Tax” On Tuesday, May 1st, the Palm Beach County Commission will be considering a $100 Million, 1/2% increase (raising existing 6% to 6.5%) in the sales tax to fund transportation related spending. The Administrator is requesting board feedback on putting this proposed tax on the November ballot, and the Commission must give approval prior to the... [Read More...]