By Mary Thurwachter
With property values beginning to rebound — up 1.6 percent over last year — Lantana will have a little more money to work with next year. Taxable property has increased from $678 million to $689 million.
In July after its second budget workshop meeting, the Town Council voted to set the tax rate at $3.23 per $1,000 of taxable property value, the same rate it has had for the past five years. Public hearings have been set for 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 and Sept. 24 in council chambers. The town can lower the tax rate but not raise it during budget hearings.
One of Lantana’s big-ticket items next year will be $663,600 for the drainage portion of the beach park paving project (improving drainage and raising the surface).
“That’s a lot of money to put into a puddle,” said council member Phil Aridas. “That may be an area where we can do a little bit at a time.”
But others, including Mayor Dave Stewart, Councilman Malcolm Balfour and Vice Mayor Tom Deringer (council member Lynn Moorhouse was not at the meeting) convinced him the money, which will come from utility reserves, should be spent sooner rather than later.
“Our beach is our biggest asset and we have to keep it up,” Deringer said. “It’ll cost a lot more later.”
Balfour said the “beach is our calling card” and needs to be preserved.
Stewart said people from all over the world visit Lantana’s beach while staying at the (former) Ritz-Carlton and some end up buying million-dollar properties in the town as a result of it.
“This is one of those things we need to do within the next couple of years,” Stewart said.
Other spending includes $25,170 for a bridge opening party with fireworks, $32,850 for a Fourth of July celebration, and $60,000 for a lobbyist.
Cost of living raises for employees are not included in the budget, but workers could receive a merit raise of up to 2 percent, depending on their evaluations.
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