News

By Sallie James

    Boca Raton would add four code enforcement officers, four firefighter/paramedics and five new police officers under a proposed 2015-2016 municipal budget that holds the line on property taxes and adds two new programs and new personnel for city beautification.
    The good news for taxpayers is that the city property tax rate would be slightly down from a year ago under the proposed $625 million 2015-2016 budget. The budget includes 34 new full-time positions and an unchanged fire assessment fee.
    According to City Manager Leif Ahnell, 2015-2016 city property values have increased 7.62 percent over a year ago, making a tax hike unnecessary.
    “We are able to hold the tax rate where we are because of the increase in property values,” said City Council member Mike Mullaugh. “We are restoring positions we had eliminated in 2008 and 2009 during the recession.”
    Calling Boca Raton a “financially sound” municipality with “world-class” services, Ahnell explained during an August budget workshop that the proposed tax rate for $1,000 of assessed value is $3.68, a slight decrease from the current rate of $3.71 per $1,000 of assessed value.
    For homeowners, that means the owner of a $300,000 single-family home will pay $1,103.97 in municipal property taxes, or 1 percent less than a year ago, if the budget is approved. The city’s proposed fire rescue assessment fee is slated to remain steady at the current rate of $85.
    In addition to municipal property taxes, tax bills include sums paid to the Palm Beach County School Board, the South Florida Water Management District, park districts and other entities.
    The 2015-2016 proposed budget includes a $142 million general fund budget, which provides money for police, fire and street services, and a $372 million operating budget.
    The city budget also includes the Economic Development Fund, Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, Sanitation Fund, Right of Way Beautification Fund, Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District Fund, Cemetery and Mausoleum Fund and the Golf Course Enterprise Fund.
    Residents will have a chance to weigh in on proposed expenditures during two public hearings: The first is at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 and the second is at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17. Both are at Boca Raton City Hall, at 201 W. Palmetto Park Road.
    “I think the city is being very well-run,” said City Council member Jeremy Rodgers. “Our city manager has kept the city quite lean. They are basically manning up for the approved projects that are already on the table.”
    The police and fire budgets for the coming fiscal year reflect contract changes that will provide more than $93 million in combined pension obligation savings over the next 30 years.
    Mayor Susan Haynie has called the contracts the “most meaningful pension reform” that has occurred in the history of the city.
    Boca Raton police will receive annual 2 percent raises for the next three years under a three-year contract that also requires police personnel to contribute more to their pension plan.
    Firefighters will also receive annual 2 percent raises for the next three years. The Boca Raton/International Association of Firefighters Local 1560 also agreed to changes in the pension plan that should make the plan actuarially sound.
    The proposed budget includes five new police officers, partially funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency, and four new entry-level firefighter/paramedics.
Other additions of note:
    • Office of the city manager: a development services manager to direct internal operations for the city.
    • Water and Sewer Fund: one new safety, security and training officer.
    • Beautification Fund: one new maintenance supervisor, 15 new groundskeepers.
    • Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District: one full-time science educator, one senior aquarist, and several other part-time positions converted to full-time positions.
    • Two new programs: rental registration and vines and exotics removal. Each program includes three new employees.