Plantation tax rate going up to cover projects

Plantation voters agreed to a slew of projects around town, and now they’ll start paying for it.

The new tax rate for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, will be $6.23 because of the extra money that’s needed to start paying the $60 million in projects.

The mayor had proposed a tax rate of $5.90 for every $1,000 of taxable value — which would have driven it to $6.38 because of the voter-approved tax for the new projects — but the majority of the council said that was too high.

“Citizens need a rebate, they need relief,” Council member Mark Hyatt said. “Put money in their account and not in the city’s reserve.”

Instead, the council has tentatively signed off on a tax rate of $5.75 for every $1,000 of taxable value. With the extra tax for the projects, the total rate will be $6.23.

For the owner of an averaged house valued at $265,000 — after a $50,000 homestead exemption — that means a city tax bill of $1,341.17.

The tax rate is an increase from last year’s rate of $5.90 for every $1,000 in assessed value, because there previously was no debt to pay back.

In November, Plantation voters approved a series of three bonds totaling $60 million in projects for parks and recreation, public works and public safety. The bonds, which will be paid back over 20 years, include items such as new sidewalks and turf fields, roadway paving and renovations to three fire stations.

The council also agreed to slightly lower the rate for two special taxing districts.

The tax rate for the Midtown Development District will be 97 cents for every $1,000 in assessed value, down from $1 for every $1,000 in assessed value. The Gateway Development District along State Road 7 will be lowered to $1.91 for every $1,000 in assessed value, down from $2 for every $1,000 in assessed value.

There are other fees as well.

The stormwater fee will remain at $30 per home.

But the cost of water and wastewater will rise almost 6 percent. Cities charging utility service taxes of up to 10 percent on water and sewer is common, Mayor Diane Veltri Bendekovic wrote the council.

“This may be an option for future consideration, as we look at funding the necessary improvements to the water/wastewater system,” she wrote.

The monthly fee for curbside garbage pickup will rise from $4.25 to $4.37.

Plantation’s garbage collection is cheaper than most cities because residents must use designated blue bags to toss their trash. The mandatory blue garbage bags for most of the city also will rise, from 80 cents to 82 cents a bag.

On the city’s list for the upcoming fiscal year: $367,480 for salary and benefits for five new Plantation police officers who will replace five who are retiring in 2018.

The budget also funds $141,633.01 in benefits that will be paid to the five retiring police officers when they leave the city.

The city is also setting aside $1.4 million for new staff, including eight fulltime paramedics and four part-time paramedics.

There’s $553,073 toward police salary increases. General employees not covered by unions, and the City Council, also will receive raises, at 3.25 percent.

More costs are coming in future budgets: Money will need to be set aside for police officers as 36 total are scheduled to retire by August 2023.

“This will result in increased personnel-related costs during the next few years,” Bendekovic said.

lhuriash@sunsentinel.com, 954-572-2008 or Twitter @LisaHuriash