By Margie Plunkett

    Fireworks may return to Lantana next year and, after three years of flat salaries, Lantana employees could get extra money — both expenses the town is trying to shoehorn into a tight budget without raising the tax rate.
    Council members set the preliminary tax rate at $3.24 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value at their July 25 meeting, which if finally approved will have been unchanged for 10 years. Council can still lower the rate at this juncture, but cannot raise it.
    The fireworks debate pitted those who view the July Fourth accoutrement as needlessly “burning money” against supporters who say the display will strengthen morale and community cohesion eroded by the prolonged economic downturn.
    “A lot of people turned out for the fireworks display we did not have,” said council member Cindy Austino. “We need a celebration for everyone.”
    Father David Kennedy of Church of the Guardian Angels argued that the fireworks is a display of caring that helps residents come together and shake off the depressing economy. It is depressing and embarrassing that Lantana didn’t have a fireworks display when other towns did. Kennedy did, however, agree to suggestions that the town could find other ways to pay for it than the town coffers — for instance, through contributions.
    Cognizant that an employee raise would add to budget expenses for years to come, Town Council is exploring giving all employees a one-time payment — the amount of $1,000 was discussed — to bolster salaries this year. Employee cost of living increases of 3 percent would cost about $135,000.
    “We get tremendous value out of the work of our employees,” said Town Manager Michael Bornstein.
    A 3 percent salary increase for employees in the lower wage scale was important, Austino said. “That could be the difference between paying a bill, buying things for their children. The higher-paid employees are not in the same circumstances as the lower-paid employees.”
    Austino, like others, cautioned that before council decided to increase wages, it would have to take into consideration how it would pay for them next year.
    One-time payments of $1,000 each to employees would result in a cost to the town of $72,000, according to council member Tom Deringer. “That’s my proposal. It helps every employee.”
    Whether employee raises are on a sliding scale of percentages based on income level or they are a one-time payment, Mayor David Stewart said, “They do deserve something. They’ve been working very hard.”
    The fireworks and employee cost of living allowance were two of several items Bornstein and Finance Director Stephen Kaplan presented to council for guidance as their work progresses on paring down the budget. “We came to you early in the process to say we’ve hit the wall. Raise taxes, make budget cuts or dip into reserves,” Bornstein said. “I need that direction.”
    Among items council favored were three police cars ($101,000), road-paving projects ($195,000), computer equipment/software ($51,050) and fireworks ($35,000).  Spending hopefuls that didn’t gain council support were $14,000 for a bridge-closing party and $17,000 for fencing at the police station.
    Some residents and council members questioned the wisdom of holding the tax rate steady for so long. “Not raising the tax rate for nine years — I don’t know if we should be proud of that number,” said council member Lynn Moorhouse. “Everything else went up and we had to take from reserves. I want to invest in this town so that we’re remembered as a little fishing village” rather than allow the town to deteriorate.
    As always, there’s another side of the coin: Those who champion minimal spending until economic growth is certain. “I would put everything on hold for a year, do only the emergency jobs. Give money to the lower-paid, they deserve it,” said resident Bob Little. “I wouldn’t spend anything out of reserves.”
    The finalized draft budget will be presented to council for consideration in August. Public hearings on that budget were set at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and 26.
    The town says its valuation of taxable property fell 3 percent to $700.5 million this year, which translated into decreased revenue of about
$71,625.                                    
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