Bob Weisman’s Response to TaxWatch Study
NOTE: The TaxWatch study was made available to commissioners and staff prior to their press release. This is the initial response from County Adminstrator Weisman. From: Robert Weisman Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 9:01 AM To: BCC-All Commissioners Cc: Lisa DeLaRionda; John Wilson; Audrey Wolf; Ross Hering; Robert Weisman; Brad Merriman; Denise Nieman; George Webb; Joe Bergeron F.; Jon Van Arnam; Liz Bloeser; Shannon LaRocque; Steve Bordelon;... [Read More...]
The 2012 TAB Proposal – September Update
The county has published their First Public Hearing package for the September 13 budget meeting. It presents a budget at the “rollback rate”, a 2.6% increase for the county-wide portion, generating $607M in ad-valorem revenue, and retains the current 2011 tax rate for Fire/Rescue and the Library System. “Rollback rate” is a misleading term. While it is supposed to mean a rate that generates the same amount of tax revenue... [Read More...]
Florida TaxWatch Report on County Reserves, Debt, and Property Utilization
At the request of the Palm Beach Civic Association, the Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board, and the Town of Palm Beach County Budget Task Force, Florida TaxWatch conducted a study of several aspects of Palm Beach County Finances. In addition to an analysis of the county debt and reserves compared to our “peer” counties – Miami/Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Orange, updated from their similar 2006 report, they also investigated... [Read More...]
September Budget Hearings – Some Background
At the end of September, the 2012 budget will be in place. In spite of 4 years of decline in real estate values, the county keeps raising the tax rates to prevent any decline in tax revenue. If the private sector worked like government, all you would need to do to maintain your standard of living as a business owner would be to raise your prices. Everyone would have to pay it, whether they could afford it or not. Of course in the real world your... [Read More...]
Two TAB Coalition Partners Organize Phonebank to oppose Tax Rate Increase
Is there really a swing vote who will decide if our tax rates are increased this year? It is possible. During the July budget workshop, the vote to raise the maximum millage to rollback (4.8751) was 4-3. Commissioners Abrams, Marcus and Burdick voted no to the increase and all had good reasons to avoid a third hike in so many years. Commissioners Aaronson, Santamaria, and Taylor voted for the hike. They also gave reasons that are not likely to... [Read More...]
Higher Tax Rates in our Future
On Monday, the county commission voted 4-3 to set the maximum millage at 4.8751, which would be a 2.6% increase over 2011. Maximum millage is the number that may not be exceeded when public hearings on the budget resume on September 13. Following back-to-back increases totaling over 25% in the last 2 years, the commissioners had directed staff in February to create a budget that did not include a tax increase. This would have resulted in $12M less... [Read More...]
County Budget Update – July 8
The next county budget workshop is Monday, July 11, at 9:30AM at 301 N. Olive, WPB in the 6th Floor Commission Chambers. Because of a scheduling issue, the BCC action to set the maximum millage rate that was scheduled for July 19 has been moved up to the 7/11 meeting. We expect the County Administrator to ask that this be set to rollback, currently estimated at 4.8751 (about a 2.6% increase in tax rate), or higher. The majority of homestead property... [Read More...]
Notes and Feedback From June 30 Commission Workshop in Pahokee
I was not able to attend the entire Commissioner Workshop on Thursday in Pahokee, but the following are my notes from the discussion: Programs identified as potential areas for budget cuts by Robert Weisman and the Commissioners: 4-H Children’s programs Park services Drug & alcohol treatment / recovery Consumer Affairs Pools Life guards at the beach No increase in funds for economic development Events at County amphitheatres The Commissioners... [Read More...]
County Budget Update – July 5
The next county budget workshop is Monday, July 11, at 9:30AM. Because of a “scheduling issue”, the BCC action to set the maximum millage rate that was scheduled for July 19 has been moved up to the 7/11 meeting. We expect the County Administrator to ask that this be set to rollback, currently estimated at 4.89 (about a 3% increase in tax rate). The majority of homestead property owners would see a larger increase of course, because their... [Read More...]
Scare Tactics
Once again, the Post’s Rhonda Swan takes on the silly games that permeate the annual county budget process. In First, cut the scare tactics, she highlights the yearly practice of proposing cuts to popular programs, simply to turn out the interest groups to oppose the cuts, knowing full well that the Commissioners will restore them. TAB explored this game last month in The Kabuki Budget. We believe the practice is cynical, and one of the reasons... [Read More...]