I only attended last night's meeting for two hours but it's a good thing I had something else to do as the meeting was contentious and lasted until around 10:30 in order to get a final vote on the Budget. Motions were kicked back and forth.
As I watched it from home later, it was clear that a few commissioners were losing their cool. There was NO compromise on the part of the Mayor, and Vice Mayor Maxwell used his favorite political slogan blaming everything on "poor management of the past" even though in August there was consensus (3/2 vote) on everything presented last night. He was part of the Nay vote then and didn't like it one little bit.
This city has to make revenue to stay afloat; it's their obligation. The electric rate, however, has always been political with Maxwell and Triolo...they had voted on rate parity with FPL and have been rip roaring ticked off that we use utility funds to support our general fund. How can a little utility compete with a huge conglomerate on price? It can't. If we can't use funds from our own utility fund to help operate our city, then what are we supposed to do? The answer is to cut spending and that's something this commission can't/won't do. The city is within 4.79% of FPL's present rate. It was pointed out in a workshop, by looking at the numbers on the graphs, that we can't continue to reduce rates or have them stay the same. We need to raise rates or we will be losing tons of money and robbing reserves.
They have been reducing our electric rate, thus our income, over the past three years. After last night, the electric rate will stay the same and per the Electric Utility report of August 11, we will lose $1,276,208 in income next year. As asked before, why would any commission approve of a budget to purposely LOSE money. This is a business. It shouldn't be about politics. It is no wonder our city is in such bad shape and it's no wonder that commissioner McVoy was mad. McVoy also wondered about $8 million being moved from the Self-Insruance Fund to balance the budget. An explanation was provided by Nerahoo Hemraj,Finance Director but no one understood it.
Also a bone of contention was the parking rates at the beach. In August, there was consensus to raise the parking rates. The following analysis shows only a $29,965 deficit after raising expenses for lifeguards and custodians.
This was approved by Commissioners McVoy, Amoroso and Maier to be evaluated after one year ending September 30, 2016. Maxwell, once again, was complaining that parking was NEVER to have been used to support the casino restoration loan from ourselves of $6 mil and refused to budge on raising parking rates. It's as if he wants the casino to fail so he can continue to say, "I told you so."
Motions upon motions were made with no seconds to the motions. The budget part of the agenda was moved to the end of the meeting in order to vote and discuss the rest of business. Later a motion was made by Maxwell to revisit the electric and beach in six months. The motion failed on a 2/3. The Mayor passed the gavel and made a new motion to review only the beach financials in six months and bring it back for discussion if needed (she is adamant about parity with FPL even if it costs us millions). That motion passed on a 3/2 (McVoy and Maier dissenting) to approve the $178.9 million budget.
So, the irony of it all is the "visionary" commission's objection to an additional $339,942 in beach parking revenue but voting to lose $1.276 million in electric revenue and Maxwell blaming it on past management instead of taking responsibility.
It was politics at the expense of the Lake Worth residents and rate payers.
11 comments:
These people are nuts. Just finished watching most of the video. Maxwell is a detriment to himself and this town.
Since the gruesome threesome would not raise parking rates, then they needed to take all of the added costs at the beach out of the budget that they put in there. They didn't do this. Therefore, we will definitely have a loss at our beach thanks to these three.
In my opinion, this is misfeasance by elected officials. Would they run their own personal budget the same way? Would they keep robbing their savings account or would they find a solution to reduce expenses i.e, stop dining out, taking vacations, buying that new car etc. or find another source of income?
We spent a lot of money hiring Burton & Associates to show them the facts. But oh no...it's election time and they're going to go through reserves instead of doing the right thing. Voting for the millage last night was the right thing to do instead of going back to the roll-back rate. Maxwell voted against it.
What is very peculiar, they have their fans and no matter what you point out, there are some who think they are doing a great job like little Ms. Buttons and Bows.
Why do these people want to run again? What is in it for them? Are they really that stupid?
They want to raise our electric bill? That's crazy we already pay the highest rate in Palm Beach County and they want more!
They would rather lose $1.276 million than raise your electric rate, anonymous--it's election time.
It would be nice if everyone had to pay taxes. At least by raising utilities cost of all the amenities is somewhat absorbed by all.
Everyone DOES pay taxes if they own a property here. The amount you pay is determined by the value. It is renters who don't pay but I am sure that is reflected in their rental amount.
You would be blaming the three votes either way....if they didn't vote for the electric increase or IF they did vote for it now wouldn't you? Funny how politics works, you can turn things around to suit your point of view.
No, I don't turn anything around, anonymous at 12:14--that's the bully blogger.
first of all we are not the highest electric rates in PB county and if you look we are in the bottom quartertile state wide but we are not FPL either and low rates will eventually be the downfall for us as we survive from revenue off of all our utilities. It is the lack of knowledge by our current Elect Staff and CM that we are in the fix we are in. Heaven forbid any staff disagrees with the CM or you are out. Ask the previous Director and manager. The CM now actually has the people in place that won't disagree just do as they are told. Look out LW we are heading down the wrong path.
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