Officials plan improvements with tax hike

For the second time in two weeks, Coral Springs residents spoke out against the proposed tax increase, but officials stayed firm in their conviction that the existing millage rate was insufficient to bring about substantive and visible improvements in the city.

At last week’s City Commission meeting, officials had a lengthy debate before finally approving a millage rate increase of 1.075 mills, which was less than the 1.25 that was recommended by staff but still a lot more than what the majority of people who spoke at the two budget public meetings were in favor of. City officials voted 4-1 to formally adopt the budget, with Commissioner Larry Vignola, who wanted the city to adopt a higher tax rate, voting ‘no.’

The new tax rate is $5.87 for every $1000 of taxable value, up from $ 4.79. City Manager Michael Goodrum assured officials that the tax increase would be sufficient to make visible improvements in the city’s parks, medians and streets. The city will also be able to put aside $2 million in the stabilization fund and add $250,000 to unassigned reserves with the 1.075 mills increase, he added.

Property tax is not the only thing going up. The fire fee for single family homes has increased by $25 and solid waste assessment by $8.25. Water rates will go up by $2.24 per month. The owner of an average single family home will pay about $22 per month more to the city compared to last year.

There is money set aside in the budget to add four strategic enforcement detectives, a strategic enforcement sergeant, an administrative lieutenant, three firefighter/paramedics. Among the other initiatives are license plate readers for Corporate Park, improvements in various additional senior programming.

Mayor Skip Campbell, who was initially against anything more than a 0.75 mills increase, had budged from his stand at the first budget hearing and said he would approve a tax rate increase of 1 mill because of the financial hit the city due to Hurricane Irma. After the initial budget hearing, the city commission had tentatively set the millage rate at 5.94, which was 1.15 mills over the existing rate. During discussions to formally adopt the budget, Campbell stuck to his stand. Vignola did, too, asserting that he would not vote for anything less than a 1.15 mills increase.

Vignola said he wanted the city to add to its reserves and improve its parks, roads and streets. “I don’t know how we can make that happen with a 1.075 mills increase. This is a onetime opportunity to make a deep impact in the community,” Vignola saiod. “Our neighbors have caught up and we have gone down. I am sick of watching my friends leave the city.”

“An increase of 1 mill would be appropriate; that would make us fiscally responsible,” said Campbell. “We have a lot of people who have gone through hard times.”

The impasse lasted for a while until Vignola finally relented to vote in favor of the 1.075 mills hike. Anything less than a 5-0 vote, and the city would have had to adopt a roll back rate, which would have meant a loss of $7.5 million in revenue and the laying off of 45 employees.