All $82,710,000 of them
Last night the mayor allowed public commentary at the workshop on Lake Worth 2020 program. Public comment at workshops (and this wasn't really a workshop but new information on the cost) is up to the mayor's discretion. It was still relegated to two minutes only, on the most important decision that taxpayers will ever make, right up there with the sale of our electric utility that is still a possibility. We were told that we will be able to ask questions at all the town hall meetings with the first one beginning tonight.
Lake Worth 2020, a plan for major roadway and sidewalk improvements has now changed from $60.2 million to $63.2 million for a general obligation bond in just one week's time. The total cost of everything that the "visionaries" (they have told us that they are the only ones doing it right after years, decades of neglect) envision will now be $82.710 million which includes all of our extra cash as well as any grant that they "might" get. The Finance Advisory Board recommended their plan. I knew I should have gone to that meeting.
Revenue bonds are off the table because they are generally backed by the revenue generated by the municipal facility funded by the bond issue. The way it was briefly described last night and my interpretation of it, road improvements, etc. do not generate income...we won't and don't have the cash for collateral to get a revenue bond. Instead of half the roads in this city being repaired or redone, it now affects 30% of the existing roads for resurfacing. 10% of the city will get some fire hydrants. Sidewalks will be analyzed on a case by case basis still part of the $35.5 million included in the road repairs. They still want to spend nearly $10 million on the Park of Commerce, money that will take 5 decades to ever recapture in ad valorem IF developers ever even build there.
Some of the Commissioner comments (not verbatim) from last night with a few raised or excited voices:
Scott Maxwell: We are still living in the dark ages...we can't afford NOT to do this...infrastructure is imploding. (The only thing imploding is LW 2020 and all those trying to grab the cash). He also implied that ad valorem taxing is NOT fair, an appeal to his wealthier support base. Where in the world did he come to that opinion? He also said that people over the last 100 years have fallen asleep at the switch concentrating on "shiny objects."
John Szerdi: We need to think about thriving, not surviving. Implies that it is as simple as giving up one cup of coffee or a hamburger.
Andy Amoroso: 64% of the people pay very little or nothing (in advalorem) "I wish there was a way for everyone to pay equally." WTF? Ok then...Bill Gates, if he lived here in a $5 million dollar house, should pay the same as I living in an 894 s.f. condo? Ad valorem is based on an appraisal and is the fairest way to tax, used by all municipal governments...we're not a socialistic country, not yet.
Pam Triolo: "You either have to come together or you don't, but you can't complain about it." Why can't we?
Some of the Public comments (not verbatim) from last night with no raised voices...80% either against or with concerns:
Jo-Ann Golden: "Visionaries have lost their sight."
Mary Lindsey: "I want to hear about the other sources of financing that we have not heard. If this fails at the polls, do we have a Plan B?"
Peter Timm: "What is my guaranty that you will do what you say you will do (with the money)? I will never vote for this."
John Rinaldi: "Why would someone invest in the city of Lake Worth to pay a tax that your competitors don't have to pay?"
Tammy Panza: "Does the Park of Commerce have to be a part of the plan?"
Loretta Sharpe: "My house is in foreclosure. What do you do with a city falling in on itself? You can't afford NOT to do the bond."
"people over the last 100 years have fallen asleep at the switch concentrating on "shiny objects."
ReplyDeleteScott Maxwell know knows better than every elected official that came before him? He knows better than our founders? This guy is arrogance on steroids! Maybe he tripped and hit himself in the head with that baseball bat of his. Even the normally loyal lunkheads know better than to accept this piece of DOO DOO that Maxwell and his cohorts want to force feed us. What happened to all of the other plans that have been paid for on how to replace our infrastructure in a sane way ? This 20/20 is nothing more than a blatant, naked cash grab from behind closed doors.
Only took 100 years to discover the road work should all be done at the same time when you rip up a road! What have they done with the road money up to this point? What will they do to assure the investment is maintained? The CRA TAKES the tax increase and I'll bet the dais will beg it back from them in grants! FYI:
ReplyDeletePSL is still waiting for their $3.8 Million in taxes from the 2nd POC owner!
What the heck? Did Scott Maxwell paddle his canoe onto the deserted shores of Lake Worth and build the city from a primeval wilderness? Were there no roads, homes, or schools in Lake Worth before the mighty wisdom of Scott Maxwell descended upon us blessed folks ? JEEZ!!! Does this guy have to walk around with lead anchors in his shoes so that he doesn't float away from all of his hot air ?!? This guy has been drinking his own koolaid.
ReplyDeleteSomeone with a foreclosure is telling us how to spend our money? You have to be kidding, right??
ReplyDeleteI know how that Pug in the picture feels after learning about this ridiculous joke of a "plan"!
ReplyDeleteSzerdi, a hamburger? where? Burger King or Cafe L-Europe/
ReplyDeleteTelling residents that it will only cost you a cup of coffee or a burger is insulting. It was done to convince folks that this is not a lot of money. Don't worry about paying back 63 million dollars. What they did not tell us was how this would impact the economics of our city. How many business might close or move. How many won't move here. How our property will be taxed higher than any other city in the county and what impact that will have on the city. It's far more than a burger.
ReplyDeleteAndy is right (sort of) with 60% of the city paying little to no city taxes, that means that the rest of us are the ones who will pay for this project. Everyone should have to pay, via an assessment, based on the actual (non homesteaded) value of the property. So no a $5 mm house would not pay the same as a $50,000 house.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a jab at you Lynn, since you don't pay taxes.. very hypocritical and very concerning
ReplyDeletecafe in europe
ReplyDeleteI will not vote for a project that benefits 100% of the people but is paid for by 35% of the people. Yes, poorer people should pay less but nothing, ridiculous. This guy Maxwell should be kept off the workshop circuit. His condescending style is nauseating. Lynn please, paved streets, sidewalks, and fire hydrants are not shiny objects. We lose credibility when we make light of essentials.
ReplyDelete1:11--but I do pay taxes...just not ad valorem right now. But this property paid ad valorem for over 40 plus years and as soon as property values go up, it will again.
ReplyDelete12:47--assessments don't work that way. Everyone pays the same amount no matter your property value because it is for a service.
Scott told everyone that assessments are not allowed by Florida law to pay for these type of improvements.
ReplyDelete@11:07, Do you really think personal attacks is the way to further your agenda? Shame on you.
ReplyDelete2:11...prove to me that we need to do everything they say we need to do. No one is making light of essentials--just spending $83 million in change.
ReplyDeleteI'm not jabbing at anyone, no one is at fault for not paying city taxes if that is how their property is assessed/valued. But the City is asking those of us who do pay taxes, 35% of the properties, to pick up the tab for this entire project as well as pick up the tab for the rest of the city budget items we pay for. It is simply not sustainable, appropriate or reasonable. I'll be voting no and I think most of the other 35% who are the City's piggy bank will also be voting no and those are the folks who vote.
ReplyDeleteIf this passes I can expect that my non ad valorem taxes will jump from a crazy $1890 to over $3500 with continued increases expected. A bed and breakfast inn located in West Palm with a much greater taxable value than us pays less than $10,000 a year in taxes which include non ad valorem taxes of less than $700 a year. How can my business compete and why would I open a business in this city if I am going to be hit with these taxes. I might as well open a business in any other city and save. There comes a time when you have to say this is too much and it's time to leave.
ReplyDelete"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel." --Patrick Henry (1778)
ReplyDeleteTo John Rinaldi, where do you live?
ReplyDelete@2:57. I agree with you. I do not believe that this general obligation bond will be accepted by the voters, those who will be bearing the brunt of the tax. They need to come up with another plan to resurface the roads, etc.
ReplyDeleteThis commission thinks we are all morons. My property value right now is under $100,000 so I won't be paying a fortune but enough to make it uncomfortable. This is a whacked out idea to go out on a bond to commit to this much debt. Nuts. I won't be voting for it either and I hop they do come up with Plan b.
ReplyDeleteThis "plan " is what happens when you have a city commission and city management that places the needs of it's citizens at the bottom of the dung heap. Cavalier attitudes towards our concerns-"It's only the price of a burger and coffee, stop whining, minions".
ReplyDeleteThe attitude of "jeez,just hurry up and get your stupid two minutes worth of worthless crap out of the way so we can get on to the REAL BUSINESS.
The trips around the country
that we peons don't know about and are not told about.
The pissy attitude and surprise by this imperial commission that the serfs of Lake Worth are actually showing some common sense by saying"Uh, hell to the NO !NO!"