Hollywood holds line on tax rate and fire fee

HOLLYWOOD Residents got their first look at Hollywood’s proposed $257.5 million budget Monday night when City Manager Wazir Ishmael presented it to the commission publicly for the first time.

Hollywood was anticipating a $10.5 million budget deficit earlier this year, but a 9 percent increase in property values helped offset the rising cost of pensions, salaries and health insurance.

Homeowners will pay the same tax rate and fire fee for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. They will continue to pay $770 for every $100,000 in taxable household value and a $222 fire fee.

Some residents have urged Hollywood to lower the tax rate, one of the highest in the county. But that didn’t happen Monday night.

Longtime resident Ann Ralston chided the commission for not lowering the tax rate.

“Homesteaded property went up 2 percent [in value],” she said. “Non-home- steaded property went up as much as 10 percent. That’s a tax increase.”

Hollywood commissioners had planned to give final approval to the tax rate and budget on Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m., but moved the time back to 7 p.m.

Pension costs remain a pesky challenge in Hollywood, with costs increasing by $7 million in the coming year, Assistant City Manager George Keller said.

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