stewart - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T13:36:27Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/stewartLantana: 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>