Last night's Millage rate discussion

It was said last night that everything starts at the local level and how true this statement is in so many ways. Local officials formulate policies that affect us all--how they want us to think and what money they want us to pay to implement their decisions and run our town. Political power and influence have started to shift right into the hands of city managers, mayors and city commissions. Party politics lends its influence on local officials even if we are supposed to be non-partisan. Here in Lake Worth, our commission is predominantly Democratic with three of the five commissioners registered Democrats. Scott Maxwell and Pam Triolo are both registered Republicans.

Last night on the first public hearing about the general city millage rate, something that I thought would sail on in like a swift breeze, there was much discussion. I thought for a moment that Scott Maxwell was filibustering. He put up a strong argument that we lower the millage 1/4 of a point.

Property values went up and therefore owners will be paying more in ad valorem taxes unless the city commission decides to roll-back the rate to the previous year. With the roll-back rate, government is not increasing taxes, even if the rate itself increases. This was not the decision last night and our taxes are estimated to increase by 7.24%.

In fact, the roll-back rate was not discussed. Lowering the percentage of increase by 1/4 of a point was discussed and this equated to .12% lower than the roll-back rate. It would have cost our city $281,000...unsure of the figure they quoted right now. But money is sorely needed by our city. We are still climbing from the ruins of the depression. The consensus of the commission was that lowering the tax rate was not good timing this year.

The vote on the First Public Hearing was 3/2 with Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell and Mayor Pam Triolo dissenting. The commission voted to establish the same rate as last year.  This was a sensible vote.