As tax revenue spiked, so did push for services
By Rich Pollack and Larry Barszewski
As a member of the statehouse’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman says she has seen numerous examples of overspending by municipal g
property taxes (40)
By Patrick Sherry
Lantana officials say their proposed fiscal budget is business as usual, with the approval for the fifth consecutive year of a maximum tax rate of $3.75 for every $1,000 of taxable value.
The Lantana Town Council unanimously appro
Ocean Ridge landowners will pay $5.40 for every $1,000 of taxable property value to fund next year’s proposed $11 million town operating budget, according to a preliminary tax rate approved July 8 by town commissioners.
The preliminary tax rate, whic
Even though Manalapan plans to spend 26% less on day-to-day costs next year, residents will pay the same property tax rate for town operations, according to preliminary budget figures.
The Town Commission on July 14 set a preliminary tax rate of $3.0
Workers lay asphalt in Gulf Stream’s Core area on July 27. The work is part of a two-year capital improvement plan. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Steve Plunkett
Just as Roadway Construction LLC was about to lay the final asphalt on streets in Gulf
By Patrick Sherry
Residents of Delray Beach could see the city’s tax rate rise for a second straight year — following a dozen years of dropping tax rates that culminated with a “no new taxes” budget in 2024.
Officials attributed the proposed increas
City going to rollback? — Boynton Beach property owners will receive preliminary tax bills showing the city plans to keep its tax rate the same — but city commissioners expect the final figure they set in September will reach the lower rollback rate.
Related: Along the Coast: Tax roll grows from previous estimate
By Rich Pollack
Difficult decisions could loom large on the horizon should a proposed state constitutional amendment reducing property taxes for a giant chunk of Florida homeowners be ap
By Mary Thurwachter
Lantana Town Manager Brian Raducci told the Town Council during its June 8 budget workshop that although the town “is pretty far along” in its budget process, things could change if the Florida constitutional amendment on homestea
Briny Breezes residents could see a big tax increase. Town Manager Bill Thrasher is proposing increasing the property tax rate from $3.75 to $6.75 per $1,000 of taxable value.
If that rate is adopted this year, the owner of a mobile home with a taxa
By Sephora Charles
State lawmakers recently passed legislation that will affect how even the smallest of towns, including Ocean Ridge, put together their annual budgets.
Among the new laws is House Bill 1329, which requires local governments to perf
By Mary Hladky
All but one southeastern Palm Beach County community saw their property values increase this year — though most performed below the countywide growth percentage.
South Palm Beach’s values declined for a second consecutive year.
The cou
County takeover would affect Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes and Gulf Stream
By Larry Barszewski
Coastal towns relying on Boynton Beach for their drinking water or for fire-rescue services could find themselves dealing with Palm Beach County instead if t
Ever since The Coastal Star was first published, I have found it an excellent local newspaper that I have always looked forward to reading. The publication has consistently covered southern coastal Palm Beach County news extremely well, with many int
By John Pacenti
Ocean Ridge’s town manager has proposed a modest but potentially crucial new revenue stream as Tallahassee debates sweeping changes that could strip local governments of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next decade.
At the Fe
By John Pacenti
Tallahassee’s drip, drip, drip erosion of home rule is about to become a tsunami as Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican supermajority’s war on municipalities is now aimed at draining their lifeblood: property taxes.
If the most extre
By John Pacenti
Ocean Ridge commissioners passed the town’s new $14.8 million operating budget smoothly — a contrast to recent years, when elected officials clashed with the town manager and the math didn’t add up.
Now Ocean Ridge is in the era of Mi
Manalapan commissioners unanimously approved an $18.7 million total budget Sept. 22 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that started Oct. 1.
The budget includes $10.2 million for the general fund, $97,000 to run the library, and $8.3 million for the town’s
By John Pacenti
Last year, Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney spearheaded a rollback of the city’s tax rate. This year, it rolled right back on residents and businesses.
And, as usual — as if this commission knows no other way — there was plenty of drama
By Mary Thurwachter
The tax rate in Lantana will remain the same as it has since 2022 — at $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value.
However, homeowners may pay more in town taxes due to an increase in their taxable property value. The approved tax rate is
