News

By Tim O’Meilia

South Palm Beach Town Council members will hold the tax rate to the current level and give non-union employees their first pay increase in years if they approve a $1.7 million budget proposed by Town Manager Rex Taylor.
The council will dip into the town’s $2 million in reserves for $89,000 to balance the budget, $27,000 less than this year.
Included in the budget is a $33,000 police car and $62,000 for costs associated with an environmental study for a proposed beach project.
“This is a very good budget, a good millage rate. The employees have not received raises in two years,” Councilman Robert Gottlieb said at the conclusion of the Aug. 12 workshop.
If the proposed budget is unchanged during Sept. 10 and Sept. 24 public hearings, non-union employees will receive a $1,500 one-time bonus and a 1 percent cost-of-living increase. The town’s unionized police got the $1,500 lump sum payment this year and will receive $1,000 in the new budget.
Councilwoman Stella Jordan preferred giving dollar amount cost-of-living increases rather than a percentage pay raise.
“I believe it is critical that some salary adjustments occur this next year,” Taylor said.
The owner of a condo with a taxable value of $100,000 paid $432 in town taxes this year. If the value of his home increased the average 5.4 percent of other South Palm Beach condos, he would pay $455 under the new budget.
In other business last month, council members unanimously approved a new five-year contract for Taylor, who has worked under an open-ended agreement since he was hired in 2005.
Taylor will earn $106,000, his current salary, unless the town council makes cost-of-living adjustments. He also will receive 11.5 percent in deferred compensation and a $425-per-month car allowance. He’ll receive five months’ severance if he is fired without cause.