gas - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T05:25:23Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/gasLantana: Less money from sales tax, gas tax to pinch town’s budgethttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-less-money-from-sales-tax-gas-tax-to-pinch-town-s-budget2020-07-01T14:59:05.000Z2020-07-01T14:59:05.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p></p>
<p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>During Lantana’s first budget workshop on June 8, Mayor Dave Stewart warned residents that the upcoming budget years would be very challenging.<br />“Property taxes will bring in about $4 million,” he said. “What it costs to run the town from A to Z for everything we do is about $19-$20 million. Your property taxes are very necessary, but they are only about 20% of what it costs to do all the services.” <br />Other money comes from gas tax revenue, sales tax sharing and revenue sharing from the state. <br />“The state last I heard, with its almost $90 billion budget, was projecting a $5 billion deficit, and that trickles down to everybody,” Stewart said. “Our sales tax receipts are projected to be considerably less — people aren’t buying in the same manner they were before the virus. And of course, with fewer people driving, there’s less gas being purchased. It’s a good thing to have some reserves, because things are going to be very, very tough.”<br />Stewart is proud that the town has built up a healthy $9 million in reserves, something he says took 20 years. The account had just $600,000 when Stewart took office in 2000.<br />“It’s a good thing I’ve been a little cheapskate with spending all these years,” he said. <br />Finance Director Stephen Kaplan, in presenting the budget, said property values increased by $78 million, or 6.9%, to $1.21 billion for the coming fiscal year. That number includes $14.4 million in new construction.<br />Property taxes, using the same $3.5 tax rate as the current fiscal year, would bring in $4.05 million. Total revenue projections are for $12.4 million, an increase of $229,000 compared with the current budget.<br />Kaplan said the town projects receiving $80,000 in federal Community Development Block grants.<br />The town is planning to give employees a 1.5% cost-of-living raise and possible merit raises up to 5% based on annual evaluations.<br />Pension costs are projected at 39.51% of wages for sworn police officers at a cost of $932,000. Pension costs for other employees are 7% of wages with a matching program of up to 2%. The total cost for this is $325,000.<br />Health and dental insurance are expected to increase 20% each for a total cost of $1,720,000.<br />Money the town receives from the penny sales tax surcharge, an estimated $785,500, is earmarked for projects such as a launch deck at Sportsman’s Park ($9,000), beach walkway rails ($120,000), playground relocation and upgrade at Bicentennial Park ($120,000) and paving projects ($450,000).<br />The budget calls for adding a dispatcher and a detective to the Police Department; and reclassifying and promoting several positions in the finance and development services departments.<br />Also on the expenditure list is increasing part-time staff hours at the library and spending $15,000 for books. The library is due for massive renovations and expansion, much of which was covered in the current budget and from donations. The remaining $300,000 will come out of reserves.<br />The town is looking into costs associated with body cameras for police at the mayor’s suggestion.<br />“I know we’ve had this discussion before, but when you see all that we see on TV, that officer from the sidewalk, I really think — and you know how I am about spending money — maybe we should spend money for body cameras to protect ourselves,” Stewart said. “I know that’s a controversial thing.”<br />Kaplan says the town expected to receive certified taxable values from the county’s property appraiser on July 1.<br />A second budget workshop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 13 — the same night a proposed tax rate will be set. There will also be two public hearings on the budget in September.</p></div>Lantana: Town agrees to finance gas line extensionhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-town-agrees-to-finance-gas-line-extension2014-05-01T13:31:33.000Z2014-05-01T13:31:33.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong><br /> <br /> Rather than borrowing money from a bank, the town of Lantana will finance the extension of natural gas lines to Hypoluxo Island using money from its general fund.<br /> In March, the Town Council directed Town Manager Deborah Manzo to take necessary steps to obtain financing for the design, construction and installation of natural gas lines. After consulting with Lantana Finance Director Stephen Kaplan, Manzo determined that the most cost-effective financing available would be for the town to underwrite the project itself.<br /> Both the general fund and the utility fund have sufficient balances to accommodate the loan, Manzo said during the town’s April 28 meeting. As of Oct. 1, 2013, the general fund had $4,109,878 and the utility fund had $5,545,807.<br /> Based on estimates from SunTrust and TD banks, the prevailing interest rates range from 3.75 to 4.5 percent. The cost estimate to obtain bank financing for the $590,000 project is $47,000 over the 10-year assessment period, of which nearly $30,000 could be avoided through town financing. Assuming an interest rate of 4 percent over 10 years, the maximum annual assessment per property would be less than $270 per year.<br /> But the total cost and amount of the special assessment will ultimately be determined by the Town Council. With the town financing the loan, the average annual interest revenue to Lantana will be about $12,000 a year for 10 years.<br /> “It’s a win-win situation,” said Rod Tennyson, one of the islanders who led the push for natural gas. “The town’s going to earn some revenue and we’ll save money.”<br /> While the town is providing the financing, Hypoluxo Island residents will pay for the gas line extension, Mayor Dave Stewart said. “The majority of the people on the island wanted it.”<br /> In October, the town sent letters to all 309 property owners asking for a yes or no vote on whether they wanted a natural gas line extended. By deadline, 197 yes votes came in, 11 more than required for passage.</p></div>Coastal Boca Raton/Highland Beach: Store, gas station generators may ease aftermath of future stormshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/coastal-boca-ratonhighland2010-09-01T19:31:33.000Z2010-09-01T19:31:33.000ZScott Simmonshttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ScottSimmons<div>By Mary Thurwachter<br /><br />Who can forget Hurricane Wilma, the menacing Category 3 storm of October 2005 that sneaked up on us from the southwest and left us without power for days?<br />Now here we are smack dab in the middle of another hurricane season that experts predict to be busier than usual and we wonder what, if anything, has changed to help us navigate another big storm. <br />There’s nothing we can do to prevent a hurricane from blowing our way, but some improvements have been made to help us better cope with a storm. <br />For starters, several grocery stores and filling stations have installed back-up generators, so that we shouldn’t have to drive 20 miles or more, wait in line and cross our fingers that we will be able to fill up our tanks or restock our pantries after the storm.<br />In Highland Beach, a large generator has been added to serve municipal buildings since Wilma, said Town Clerk Beverly Brown. In case of a power outage, the generator will provide power to all three municipal buildings — Town Hall, the water plant and the library.<br />Work done in the past year by Florida Power & Light may make life a more tolerable after the storm. The power company installed stronger concrete power poles along A1A.<br />“It was part of our comprehensive plan since the hurricanes of 2004,” said FPL spokeswoman Sarah Marmion. “Replacing the old wooden poles with concrete ones will help reduce outages and shorten the duration,” she said. “Of course, we can’t promise there won’t be power outages.” <br />Regardless of how sturdy windows or power poles are, coastal residents still need to follow the traditional drill as a hurricane approaches: Evacuate. <br />There are shelters nearby, but residents who haven’t already left to spend the hot season elsewhere typically escape to a friend’s home or a hotel. <br /><br />Watches, warnings <br />This year there have been some changes in the definition of the common terms used to describe certain storm conditions, so it is important that residents understand and respond to these situations if announced, says Ocean Ridge Police Chief Chris Yannuzzi. <br />“Due to the increased accuracy in predicting the direction and characteristics of an approaching storm, the advance notice for a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning have been increased,” he says. “A hurricane watch will now be issued 48 hours in advance. A hurricane warning will be issued 36 hours in advance.”<br /><br />Where to find shelters<br />The three closest shelters for residents of coastal Boca Raton and Highland Beach are: <br />n Atlantic High School, 2455 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.<br />n Boca Raton High School, 1501 NW 15th Court, Boca Raton. <br />n West Boca Raton High School, 12811 Glades Road, Boca Raton.<br /><br />Special needs<br />People with physical, medical or other disabilities, as well as the elderly, need to plan for their safety during a storm like anyone else. But their needs may call for more detailed planning and entail friends, family, neighbors and health-care attendants.<br />You can go online and sign up if you need help with transportation or to reserve a bed. If there are evacuations, some shelters will be available for folks with special needs. To reserve, call (561) 712-6400. <br /><br />A safe place for Fido<br />Most pet owners will take their four-legged buddies along wherever they go, but, if you need to board your pooch or kitty, you can find a list of local animal hospitals and facilities that will do that at Animal Care & Control, <a href="http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare/">www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare/</a>, or phone (561) 233-1200. <br />Residents looking for a public shelter that welcomes pets will find one at the gymnasium at the West Boynton Beach Recreation Center, east of the high school at 6000 Northtree Blvd., Lake Worth. It’s between Hypoluxo Road and Gateway Boulevard off the east side of Jog Road. Phone: (561) 233-1266.<br /><br />Preparation is key<br />If you haven’t already, stock your pantry with canned goods, your freezer with ice and make sure you have plenty of bottled water, batteries for flashlights and radios, and gasoline for your generator. Have your storm shutters handy and get ready to roll if you need to evacuate. <br />Then pray the experts predicting a busier-than-usual season are wrong and enjoy what’s left of the summer. <br />Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. <br /><br />Where to go for gasoline, groceries<br /><br />Gas stations with generator back-up from I-95 east (Delray-Boca Raton):<br />Delray Chevron, 1909 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach (just near the I-95 exit on west side)<br />Nexstore Gas, 8081 Congress Ave., Boca Raton (near the I-95 exit on west side)<br />U Gas, 5101 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton<br />Ron’s Camino Real Mobil, Pearson Enterprises, 1 Camino Real, Boca Raton<br /><br />Grocery stores with generator back-up:<br />Publix, The Plaza at Delray, 1538 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach<br />Publix, Boca Valley Plaza, 7431 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton<br />Publix, at Spanish River, 141 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton<br />Whole Foods, 1400 Glades Road, #110, Boca Raton<br />Publix at Palmetto Park Square, 1339 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton<br />Publix at Mercado Real, 1001 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton<br />Source: Palm Beach County Emergency Management and businesses<br /></div>