2009.09.03_TC_Minutes_SpecialTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
BUDGET PUBIC HEARING
Thursday, September 03, 2009 5.01 PM
Mayor Jim Newill, CPA, called the budget meeting to order in Commission Chambers at
5:01 PM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Jim Newill, CPA; Vice Mayor Miriam S. Zwick;
Commissioner Doris M. Trinley; Commissioner John J. Sorrelli; and Commissioner John J.
Pagliaro. Also present: Town Attorney Tom Sliney; Town Manager Dale S. Sugerman;
Town Clerk Beverly M. Brown; Deputy Finance Director Cale Curtis; and members of the
public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of
silence in honor of members of the military, both living and deceased.
Civility Pledge: Town Clerk Brown recited the Civility Pledge for the Commission and
public.
1. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:
Agenda accepted as presented.
2. PUBLIC COMI~~NTS AND REQUESTS:
Arlen Voress - 4403 Intracoastal Drive
In favor of the new proposed budget. Will there be a water rate change?
Town Mana eg r Suge~ -The budget presented assumes that we will have a 10% rate
reduction. Our water rates are on a 3 tier usage. The rate reduction is not across the
board. The initial analysis indicates the greatest amount of decrease will be in the
highest tier, a medium decrease in the middle tier and the lowest decrease in the lowest
tier. To date, nothing has been officially adopted. Nothing has come before the
Commission and until an ordinance is adopted, nothing will change. If our assumption
Town Commission Budget Hearing Minutes
September 3, 2009 Page 2 of 4
is wrong, then we will have to do a mid-year budget adjustment.
3. READING OF BUDGET RESOLUTIONS
A) Town Clerk Brown read Resolution No. 09-011 R -Adoption of Proposed
Final Millage Rate into the record.
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL MILEAGE RATE OF
3.3542 MILS FOR THE TOWN'S GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2009 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2010; PROVIDING THAT THE FINAL MILEAGE RATE OF 3.3542 MILS IS
11.49 PERCENT LESS THAN THE COMPUTED ROLLED-BACK RATE OF
3.7898 MILS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Town Mana er Su erman -The operating budget has not changed since our second
workshop meeting. Please remember that 3.3542 mils does not have to be the final
millage rate. The Commission adopted a tentative maximum millage rate of 3.7697 mils.
If the Commission wanted to do so, the final millage rate could still be adjusted to any
number between 3.3542 mils and 3.7697 mils. At the higher of the two numbers, this
would add approximately $771,847 to the anticipated revenues if this higher millage rate
is adopted at the second meeting on September 23, 2009. If the budget is adopted at
3.3542 millage rate, we will have accomplished an 11.49 percent reduction in the millage
rate compared to the roll-back rate. Both resolutions are being introduced at this meeting,
and there will be opportunities for both individual members of the Commission to speak
to both items, and for the public to speak to both items. Neither resolution is to be voted
upon at this meeting. The second reading of these two resolutions, along with a final vote
will not be conducted until the meeting of September 23rd at 5:01 PM.
Last month, the Commission adopted the Tentative Maximum Millage Rate. The TRIM
notices were mailed to our taxpayers indicating the maximum amount of taxes allowed
under this millage rate. Taxes could go up, but the Commission is probably not going to
adopt the maximum rate. Property values in Highland Beach on an average dropped
17%.
Deputy Finance Director Curtis stated that Town Hall has received many calls from
residents with questions about the TRIM Notice. He gave a power point presentation
explaining values, roll back rates and proposed taxes.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING 2009/2010 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET:
Raquel Salk -Coronado
I still do not understand. I received a notice stating that the value of my property
dropped 10%, but my taxes increased 20%.
Town Commission Budget Hearing Minutes
September 3.2009 Pale 3 of 4
Deputy Finance Director Curtis -There are two reasons that this occurred. In July,
the Town Commission adopted the maximum millage rate that was allowed to give
themselves some flexibility in adopting a balanced budget. They are not going to
adopt this rate, but will be using a much lower rate. When reading the notice, each
separate taxing authority also sets their own millage rate.
Town Mana er Sugerman - If the Town Commission adopts the proposed Resolution,
the Highland Beach portion of the tax bill will be a decrease from last year.
Mayor Newill -Only two parts of the entire tax bill are related to Highland Beach.
The balance of the bill pertains to various agencies in the county.
B) Town Clerk Brown read Resolution No. 09-012 R -Adoption of
Proposed 2009/2010 Budget into the record.
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL BUDGET FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2009 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2010; DETERMINING AND FIXING THE AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO CARRY
ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR;
PROVIDING FOR 5EVERABILITY, CONFLICTS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Arlen Voress -4403 Intracoastal
When you get a tax bill, the Highland Beach portion of the bill represents only 16% of
the whole bill. The County Commission voted to increase taxes 15%. Half of your tax
bill goes to the school system. The value of my property increased this year. It would
be my guess, that the houses along the ocean and Bel Lido went way up this year.
Peter Bass - 3644 S. Ocean Blvd.
My assessed value went up. It is hard to believe when the market value is down.
Everyone is assuming all the values went down and the taxes will go down.
Mayor Newill - If the Commission passes the proposed millage rate stated in the
Resolution, the taxes in Highland Beach will go down for the third year in a row.
Town Mana eg r Su eg_ rman -This is the first that I heard of any assessed values going
up in Highland Beach, Over all, the community's assessed values went down. The
Property Appraisers' staff must have determined that the values were too low. The
article in the Sun Sentinel stated that 98% of the properties in Palm Beach County
went down. If any resident wants to challenge their value, they must file a petition
prior to September 14a'.
Town Commission Budget Hearing Minutes
September 3, 2009 Page 4 of 4
5. COMIVIISSION COMEEINTS":
Commissioner Trinlev -Happy to have had the millage rate clarified.
Vice Mayor Zwick -The assessed value went up and the market value has gone down.
People not covered by "Save Our Homes" are desperate to sell and are selling their
properties low. This is what is bringing the values down.
Mavor Newill -Everyone should realize the proposed millage rate will be passed at our
next meeting. The Town will be taking money out of reserves to reduce the budget.
Personally, I have a problem with taking the money out of the reserves and lowering
the tax rate.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS:
• No further comments received
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, a
MOTION was made by Commissioner Trinlev and seconded by Commissioner
Pagliaro to adjourn at 5:40 P.M.
APPR
'~ ,
/ /~
Miriam S. Z ick ce Mayor
,.
r;, ,.~ .
~._... ~.
Inhn J. Sc~'relli, Commissioner
Attest:
Beverly M. B wn, Town Clerk
Jim ey/~Il, CPA~r
~/G-cam: ~I1 - , i, _. (I
M. Trinlev,
~~~~
~~