By Rich Pollack
Highland Beach town commissioners gave final approval Sept. 18 to a new $32.2 million budget that includes approximately $6.6 million in town-wide capital projects while at the same time holding the tax rate steady.
The total budget for the new fiscal year that started Oct. 1 reflects an increase of about $4.5 million over the previous year’s estimated $28 million.
The general fund portion of the budget that covers the cost of running the departments — including police and fire rescue — is expected to increase by about 5.6% in the new fiscal year, or about $1 million, and will come in at about $19.5 million.
Still, thanks to an increase in property values, town leaders were able to keep the town’s tax rate at the same combined $3.58 per $1,000 of taxable value as last year. Homeowners who saw an increase in their property’s taxable value will see an increase in the taxes they pay.
This year, a home with a taxable value of $500,000 will pay about $1,790 in property taxes to Highland Beach. The Town Commission approved an operating tax rate of $3.41 per $1,000 of taxable value and a debt service rate of 17.1 cents per $1,000.
About 75% of the town’s general fund revenue will come from property tax dollars, an expected $14.1 million, or a 6.8% increase over the current year. Public safety makes up about 63% of the general fund expenses, with fire and police each costing just over $6 million.
The total budget also reflects an increase in water and sewer rates of about 5%, while the building department fund anticipates a reduction in permit fees of about 12%.
An estimated $675,000 from the water fund will be used for capital improvements while $2.15 million from the sewer fund will be used for capital projects, including a long-awaited sewer lining project.
Funding for construction of a fire station annex on the site of the old fire station, with a potential price tag of about $1.3 million, is also included in the budget.
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