The Briny Breezes Town Council and the corporation that owns most of the town took steps during July town budget meetings to ease the tensions between them.
The council and the president of Briny Breezes Inc. discussed signing a contract that would guarantee the corporation pays 30 percent of the fire-rescue and police services for the 2012 budget year.
While the corporation traditionally has contributed a similar percentage, the board members withheld $30,000 this year in a dispute over legal fees the town was paying. Later the corporation agreed to pay $10,000.
Corporation board president Mike Gut and park manager Steven Best attended budget hearings and asked questions so Gut could better explain the council’s reasoning to his board in the fall.
“I want to thank you for being very upfront with regard to sharing your information with us,” Gut told the council at the July 14 budget workshop.
Town residents will again pay a tax rate of $10 per $1,000 of taxable property value, the maximum allowed by state law. The council approved the rate July 28. The council depends on the corporation to supplement town income, since property taxes — the town’s main source of revenue — don’t cover the town’s operating costs.
“We were hoping we could reduce the rate, but I see that it’s nearly impossible,” said Alderman Pete Fingerhut.
The council tentatively agreed on a $601,176 budget for next year, about $13,000 more than this year’s. Property tax revenue is forecast to be up about $9,000 because Briny is one of the few Palm Beach County municipalities that saw its property values increase.
The town will pay Boynton Beach $293,202 next year for fire and rescue service, a 4 percent increase under their contract. Water and sewer charges, also from Boynton Beach, are expected to go up 5 percent.
The town’s contract with neighboring Ocean Ridge for police service will remain at $185,000 for the next two years.
The automatic fire-rescue increase prompted council members to begin serious consideration of joining other coastal communities in forming a joint fire department. Discussions have just begun among the towns.
The council will begin charging a $50 fee to contractors who work in the town, a move that will net about $1,500. A fee for re-inspections of permitted work may be instituted as well to offset administrative costs.
The council will hold public hearings on the budget at 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 9 and Sept. 22, with final approval on Sept. 22.
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