Palm Beach County Dems endorse 14.9 percent property tax rate hike
by George Bennett | September 8th, 2009
County Democratic Chairman Siegel says $4.34 rate is OK
Because overall property values have declined, the 14.9 percent rate hike would generate roughly the same amount of revenue in 2009-10 as the county is getting this year and therefore wouldn’t meet the state’s legal definition of a tax increase. But homesteaded property owners, whose taxes have been relatively flat in recent years because of appraisal limits in the state’s Save Our Homes act, would see higher tax bills under the plan.
The county’s Democratic Executive Committee passed a “service preservation resolution” last week endorsing the $4.34 rate, saying that level of taxation is needed to maintain services and avoid layoffs of county employees. A party representative plans to speak at tonight’s hearing, county Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel said.
County GOP Chairman Dinerstein wants 10% pay cut
In addition to the proposal to raise the countywide tax rate from $3.78 to $4.34 per $1,000 of value, commissioners will consider raising the fire-rescue tax rate paid in unincorporated areas and some cities from $2.95 to $3.45 and holding the library tax rate at $0.497.
The taxes levied by county commissioners are separate from taxes for schools, municipalities and special taxing districts.
Tonight’s hearing is at 6 p.m. at the county commission chambers on the 6th floor at 301 North Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach. Click here for background budget materials supplied by the county.
The commission plans a second hearing Sept. 21 before voting on the budget.
Tags: Mark Alan Siegel, Sid Dinerstein
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September 8th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Spend , Spend . It seems all the county commisioner’s can do is spend, no talent for cutting budgets and saving residents money . Why are they so scared to get the sheriff’s office to to cut its budget? all you property owners take note if your county commisioner vote for the increase then vote them out.They just can not help themselves. So you should help them right out the door ….
September 8th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
The County Commissioners were happy to increase services, programs and staffing levels when the money was rolling in during the boom times but now do not want to make cuts to reflect the current economic realities. IT IS TIME TO GET REAL!
September 8th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
This whole county and county commisioner’s are a JOKE.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
You raise our taxes , and your out!!!!Plain and simple!!!
September 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
The start of this decade the county budget was not even 1 billion. Today it stands close top 4 billion. Yet, the official inflation rate during these years has been between 0 and 3%. Compounded, the budget should be no more than $1.4 billion today.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I am all for cutting taxes, and I know there are other ways of doing so by suspending certain programs and services. As far as cutting the Sheriff’s budget, that would be a disaster. Do you read the papers?? Have you been through Belle Glade, Pahokee, Lake Worth, West Palm, Boynton Beach??? This county will look like Miami-Dade in no time if we shrink the Sheriff’s budget. The sad thing is that the bulk of his budget goes into the 3 jails by housing, feeding, clothing, and providing medical to these savages….As a friend of a deputy I know that it definitely does not go into his pocket….they are grossly underpaid for what they have to put up with.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Yes, I’ve been through Belle Glade, Pahokee, Lake Worth, West Palm, Boynton Beach. What did I see? Cops going through red lights. Cops parked in handicap and firelanes. Cops parked doing nothing. You speed through those areas and a cop is sure to give you a ticket costing you hundreds. That’s more than a robber would stel from me and the cop would never be there to protect me nor find the crook.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Families are losing their homes because they have lost their jobs!!! It is UNCONSCIOABLE to raise taxes now! You must hold the line. Reevaluate next year but not now, PLEASE. Look at the economy here. We cannot afford anymore taxes!!!!!
September 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
[...] Just because Palm Beach County’s Democratic Party gave its blessing to a 14.9 percent countywide property tax rate hike doesn’t mean all Democratic candidates are on [...]