By Steve Plunkett
The rate on property tax bills this fall for the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District will likely be the same $1.08 per $1,000 of taxable value that it was last fall.
District commissioners set the tentative rate at their July 24 meeting. The rate will generate $41.8 million in collected tax revenue, up $4.4 million from the previous year.
The district will pay the city $27.6 million, down 3.3%, mostly to operate and maintain Red Reef Park and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and supply staff at district facilities.
Commissioners agreed with Executive Director Briann Harms not to contribute to building a new maintenance facility at the city’s Spanish River Park.
They declined to remove anything from Harms’ list of proposed projects for fiscal 2024, which include $3 million for developing the Ocean Breeze/Boca National parcel, which they renamed “North Park” on July 10, and $1.3 million for unspecified shade structures in all their parks.
“I think what we have on our plate are things that we need to do, and I’m comfortable with all the things that are listed here,” Commissioner Steven Engel said.
Under the tentative rate the owner of a $1 million home would pay $1,080 in taxes to the Beach and Park District. Property values in the district, which includes residences west of the city limits, rose 10.5% over the previous year, lower than the city’s 12.4% boost. The value of a homesteaded property rose 3%.
The rollback rate, which would have brought in the same amount of taxes as the previous year not counting new construction, was 97 cents per $1,000.
The district will also give the city $2.5 million as its share of Community Redevelopment Agency tax increment funding. Arguing that the money is not used for recreation purposes, the district wants to limit or completely avoid the TIF payment. The subject will be discussed at a joint meeting of the District Commission and the City Council on Aug. 21.
The district’s first of two public hearings on the 2023-2024 budget will be Sept. 5.
Comments