News

By Rich Pollack

    The Highland Beach Town Commission last month gave final approval to a $11.35 million general fund budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year — while at the same time holding the line on the town’s operating tax rate at $3.95 per $1,000 of assessed value.
    Thanks to the retirement of a 20-year-old bond, Highland Beach’s debt service tax rate dropped by 19 percent. As a result, the town’s overall tax rate fell from $4.80 per $1,000 of taxable property value to $4.64 in the new fiscal year that began on Oct. 1.
    Helping to make it possible for town officials to keep the operating tax rate from going up is the increase in property tax revenue of about $430,000 over last year, resulting in large part from an increase in property values throughout the town.
    While the tax rate will go down, many property owners could see the amount of taxes they pay to the town go up as a result of higher property values.
    The new budget, according to Town Manager Kathleen Weiser, makes it possible for the town to address several capital projects that have been on hold without having to raise taxes.  
    The new budget includes $150,000 for the enclosure of two terraces at the town library and $130,000 for an agreement with the city of Delray Beach for use of a fire truck and a rescue vehicle. The town, which is negotiating a vehicle maintenance fee agreement with Delray Beach, currently contracts with that city for fire service but still owns an aging fire truck and a rescue vehicle.
    “This budget is balanced without any major spending cuts to personnel or operations,” Weiser said.