By Steve Plunkett
In two words, the state of the city of Boca Raton is “very strong,” Mayor Scott Singer says.
“We have world-class services and low taxes and, most of all, nearly 100,000 people making this an unparalleled place to live, work, learn and play,” said Singer, who delivered his first State of the City address since becoming mayor in April to the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations last month.
High among the city’s accomplishments for the year that ended Sept. 30 were the opening of the U.S. Customs facility at the Boca Raton Airport, providing city-owned land for a new elementary school, and decreasing the time it takes to get a building permit from 31 to 21 days, Singer said.
Fiscal 2018 also saw the opening of the Spanish River Boulevard interchange on Interstate 95 and the establishment of quiet zones for the Brightline express railway, soon to be rebranded as Virgin Trains USA.
Boca Raton’s guiding principles remain the same as they have been for years: to be financially sound, provide world-class services, have a strong partnership with the community and be vibrant and sustainable.
In the coming year, city officials plan to develop a master plan for Boca Raton’s government campus, decide how to revitalize Dixie Highway and promote more art in public places. The city will collect $71.5 million in property taxes; it has 1,873 full-time employees and a AAA bond rating. While Boca Raton’s population is estimated at 98,150, about 250,000 are in the city on an average day, Singer said.
Signature events for the city include college football’s Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl, to be played Dec. 18 at Florida Atlantic University, golf’s Boca Raton Championship at the Broken Sound Club in February and the Festival of the Arts Boca, starting Feb. 28.
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