Hallandale passes budget after commission dispute

HALLANDALE BEACH — With the city manager warning of mass layoffs, commissioners ended their weeklong deadlock Monday night and signed off on a tax rate and budget plan.

But it was not without the high drama for which Hallandale Beach has become known; commissioners clashing on both sides during a meeting that lasted nearly three hours.

Last week, the commission failed to approve a $70 million budget after deadlocking repeatedly. Commissioners Keith London and Michele Lazarow voted for the budget while Mayor Joy Cooper and Taub voted against.

Normally Anthony Sanders would break the tie but he resigned the commission in

On Monday night, commissioners approved the budget 3-1, with Taub voting no.

If Hallandale commissioners failed to approve a tax rate, the city would lose $33.6 million, City Manager Roger Carlton warned. That would lead to 269 people being laid off, including 44 firefighters and 41 officers. A ladder truck and fire truck would be eliminated and a city swimming pool would close.

Fifteen people — both residents and employees — implored commissioners to do their jobs and pass the budget.

Employee Ida Smith said every city worker spent the weekend in fear of losing their job.

“Right now in Hallandale, we need a hero,” she told commissioners. from midAugust. “We need the people who can speak up and make the decisions. We are asking, we are begging you all to be our hero.”

Resident Etty Sims urged commissioners to “put aside differences and hate toward each other and think about the consequences of not passing a budget.”

Cooper said she’d been trying to find a compromise but could not support what she called “draconian” budget cuts. She urged tapping the city’s $13.5 million in emergency reserves.

London argued against that plan, saying Hallandale has raided reserves for the past five years to the tune of $30 million.

Carlton offered the following solutions to address Cooper’s and Taub’s concerns: Instead of selling the city’s trash collection service, rates would increase by 30 percent; Hallandale would lease 100 body cameras instead of 200 to save $100,000; and a special fund would be created to help workers pay higher insurance deductibles.

Most homeowners in Hallandale will see higher tax bills because of a 6 percent increase in property values. Under the current plan, they would pay $580 for every $100,000 in taxable value, the same rate as last year.

A second hearing is required to finalize the budget. That hearing will be held on Oct. 2.

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