Property tax cut has town rethinking wish list
Change to homestead exemption would cut into sales-tax money.
JUPITER — The Florida Legislature’s plan to lower propert y t a xe s c au s e d J u p i t e r ’s t own council Tuesday to scale back its spending wish list for the $40 million expected from the onepenny county sales tax increase approved by county voters last year.
The state is considering a plan to expand the homestead exemption to $75,000 from $50,000 for homes worth $100,000 or more. If 60 percent of voters approve in November 2018, the expanded homestead exemption becomes part of the state constitution.
Palm Beach County would lose a combined $62.7 million in property tax revenue, according to county officials.
“We need to allocate dollars towards toward existing infrastructure projects,” Councilman Ilan Kaufer said.
The town expects between $34 million-$40 million from the onepenny sales tax increase over the 10-year life of the tax.
T h e c o u n c i l i n D e c e mb e r approved a preliminary wish list for the following allocated money:
■ $10 million for town hall improvements.
■ $9 million to buy property for public use.
■ $6 million for an Abacoa parking garage.
■ $5 million for an indoor athletic building. culated on social media. Boynis registered. However, that ■ $4 million in updates to Inditon Beach and the city’s police doesn’t mean that person was antown Road. department posted on Facedriving at the time. The inves■ $3.5 million for a senior cenbook a before-and-ter.afterandtigationintothecrashisnow residents were upset. inactive until police get more $400,000 for a veterans
City police officers know what leads, said police spokeswoman memorial. type of car was involved in the Stephanie Slater. “We need to whittle down this wreck, and to whom the car list,” said Councilman Ron Delaney.
The council Tuesday recommended eliminating the senior center and reducing the amount for buying land for public use. They directed staff to look for other reductions.
In other action, the council approved the following:
■ Spending $17,000 — bringing the total this year to $22,000 — to go toward about $150,000 in renovations being done on the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. The $150,000 project is expected to be done in about a month.
■About $37,000 in 10 matching grants for neighborhood improvements. The grants are expected to help finance about $100,000 in neighborhood improvements. Neighborhoods receiving the grants are: Hamptons ($5,000); Indian Creek Phase IV-B (Monterey Villas) ($2,653); Jupiter Cove ($5,000); Jupiter Inlet Condo ($3,654); Jupiter Village Phase 4 ($2,452); Jupiter Village Phase 9 ($1,475); Ocean Parks ($5,000); Rialto ($3, 250); San Palermo ($5,000); and Sea Colony ($3,142).
■ A c o n t r a c t u p t o a b o u t $440,000 for landscape and irrigation maintenance with Clearwater-based Duval Landscape Maintenance.
■ A contract of about $390,000 for painting maintenance services with Pompano Beach-based Hartzell Inc.
Friday is Movies in the Park at the Ocean Avenue Amphitheatre, 129 E. Ocean Ave. The movie “Hidden Figures” will play on the big screen. The free event begins at 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a beach chair or blanket. Food, snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. The Boynton CRA also will hold a free drawing with prizes consisting of gift certificates to some of the local restaurants and businesses. For information, contact Mercedes Coppin at the CRA at (561) 600-9097.
Due South Brewery is celebrating Cinco De Mayo by hosting Cinco ‘Due’ Mayo on Friday from noon to 11 p.m. The brewery, at 2900 High Ridge Rd., will release Mexican Standoff. The brewers describe it as “our highly sought after imperial porter with cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla, and habanero peppers, on draft and in cans for the first time.” Also, Outside the Box will have Mexican food for purchase from 4 to 10 p.m.
The Sand Si f ter s wil l clean up Oceanfront Park beach on Saturday. The cleanup is from 8 to 10:15 a.m. The park is at 6415 N. Ocean Blvd. For information, visit Facebook. com/swatjil.
The Barnes & Noble in Boynton is hosting a Children’s Storytime event Saturday. The book to be read is “Drag- sionfruit & Ginger, Strawberry Basil and Dry-Hopped. In Miami-Dade County, the products have been sold at Wynwood Brewing Co., Dirt, Wynwood Yard and Organic Bites. In Broward, Montelius has sold to Green Bar and Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale.
In Palm Beach County, he’s sold to Park Tavern in Delray Beach, Bolay in Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, and Harold’s Coffee in West Palm Beach. ons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel,” written by Adam Rubin. The event begins at 11 a.m. at the store at 333 N. Congress Ave.
Children ages 2 to 12 are invited to Paint and Sip at the Boynton Beach Mall on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. The children will make their own work of art with the help of an instructor. The event is free, and supplies will be provided. The mall is at 801 Congress Ave. The event is in the Center Court. There are 30 seats available. First come, first served.
The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency b oard will meet Tuesday. The meeting will be held at City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. and is open to the public. It begins at 6:30 p.m.
The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday will host a Lunch & Learn event about ransomware. The event is from noon to 1 p.m. in the chamber board room. Reservations are required. Contact Elda at Elda@boyntonbeach.org, or call (561) 732-9501.
The chamber’s Food, Wine and Brew Festival is May 11. The event is at Benvenuto, 1730 N. Federal Highway from 6 to 9 p.m. For information, visit boyntonbeach.org, or call (561) 732-9501.