Mayor Betty Resch wants you to Vote YES on ballot initiatives

Because the City can't maintain itself, so let's give it away to developers for 100 years.

Mayor Betty Resch supports the Ballot initiatives

"As your mayor, I walk our streets and see two different versions of Lake Worth Beach. I see the city we all love — rich in history, character and diversity.

But I also see the physical toll that decades of delayed maintenance and an outdated city charter have taken on our most precious assets. On March 10, we face a defining moment. We can choose to cling to the no-to-everything mentality that wants no change, or we can choose to provide a better future for Lake Worth Beach.

Our city is at a critical point, both physically and fiscally. Our 100-year-old municipal golf course needs major renovations and updating; the clubhouse needs some loving care. The historic city hall annex — a major historic contributor to our downtown — now sits empty but could once again be functional. At the beach, our empty pool is a sad example of decades of neglect. Our current charter lease limits make public-private investment nearly impossible.

The hard truth is that clinging to the past and fearing the future cannot fix leaking roofs or flooding greens. We are facing a looming financial crisis that we cannot ignore."

Now the City is deathly afraid of what might happen in the Florida Legislature that would collapse their general fund because they can't ever save a dime.

"The Florida Legislature is considering two bills that could devastate our city’s budget: one that could cut nearly $8.5 million from our property taxes and another that would slash over $16.2 million from our general fund. This is a potential $24.7 million hit to the services you rely on every day. Cities all over Florida are facing this devastating legislation. There are no provisions to replace those funding sources. Ballot questions 2 and 3 are the keys to our revitalization," she says.

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In November 2016, Lake Worth voters approved a $40 million, 30-year bond specifically to address deteriorating, crumbling roads throughout the city. How about an update on the funds still available as we have to pay for 20 more years and some of the roads still need repairs that are constant. Now the city is into affordable housing again and recently received an $850,000 grant which doesn't cover our expenses.

Thanks to Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill, in 2013 we had a Charter Amendment that passed--placed on the ballot and approved by voters on March 12, 2013, solidifying the 45-foot and 35-foot height limits, with exceptions for existing buildings and previously approved permits.

Money comes and money goes as quickly as we get it. So, we are supposed to vote in 99 year leases for our entire city? A 'no' keeps the rule that voters must approve those leases by referendum..

Senator Kennedy speaks to Explosion in Federal Spending

Musk and DOGE are undertaking the biggest revolution in government since 1776

“A lot of this money that we’re spending, things that we’re spending money on, are just money sucks. They’re spending porn. We’d be better off spending this money on scratch tickets and blackjack,” Kennedy said.

Inflation occurs when too much money chases too few goods.

And Kennedy told Pirro that as long as federal spending remains out of control, there is no chance to give the American people relief from Joe Biden’s inflation crisis.

“We will never get prices down and control inflation until we deregulate the economy so goods and services will cost less, until we design a tax code that looks like somebody designed it on purpose, and until we control spending. That’s just Econ 101,” Kennedy remarked.

“A billion dollars for a simple online survey — ‘Do you like the National Park?,’ and then there appeared to be no feedback loop for what would be done with that survey,” Musk told Baier. “So the survey would just go into nothing. It was insane.”

Kennedy put into context the explosion in federal spending under Joe Biden saying it was 27 times the population growth.

“Since 2019, America’s population is up 2%. Spending’s up 55%. President Biden’s favorite type of spending was more,” Kennedy added.

Read about it...

Our Tax and Spend President - His Proposed Budget

White House officials and Democratic lawmakers have emphasized Biden’s plan to reduce the deficit largely through higher taxes on the wealthy.

But the proposal is as much a political document as an actual tax-and-spending plan. Congress is in charge of writing the federal budget, and Biden’s budget will be dead on arrival the minute it lands on Capitol Hill.

GOP leaders say they won’t raise the debt ceiling unless Biden agrees to cut spending.

Biden’s budget blueprint got a big thumbs down from the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.

Neil Bradley, the business group’s head of policy, called the plan a “recipe for economic and fiscal disaster.” Instead of proposing new spending and taxes, Bradley said, the administration should work with Congress to cut spending and lower the federal debt.

Time running out for Biden to pass major spending bill

Sen. Joe Manchin cools on spending negotiations, citing fears of an 'inflation fire'

"Just when Democrats seemed closer to reviving parts of President Joe Biden's stalled domestic agenda, Sen. Joe Manchin pumped the breaks Wednesday.

The West Virginia Democrat – whose vote is critical for a bill the White House is waiting on – issued a blistering statement on soaring inflation, casting doubt about how far he's willing to go in a spending package. Without Manchin, the Biden administration's plans to address climate change, overhaul taxes and lower prescription drug prices hang in the balance."

Read what the other powerful Joe said

You can't Spend like a Drunken sailor

Joe Biden is whining because Americans don’t believe one lie he’s telling

• The Biden administration has become a sinking ship.

• White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki bailed before the ship hit the iceberg.

• Now, Joe Biden is whining because Americans don’t believe one lie he’s telling.

• Joe Biden is apparently mystified by his sagging poll numbers.

• In his mind, he’s doing a great job, and he can’t understand why the American people are not on board.

• The Democrat Media Complex cannot paper over the economic concerns burdening everyday Americans.

Biden and the Democrats spent like drunken sailors; they pumped trillions of dollars into an overheated economy, and now they’re reaping the whirlwind of that decision.

Read about the rest of the whine

Another spending farce from Pelosi and Gang

Dems Phony Baby Formula Bill Funds Expansion of Biden’s FDA

Democrats found a new way to disgrace themselves last week, hijacking a true tragedy that has seen desperate moms scrounge for baby formula and using it as an excuse to funnel upwards of $23 million into more government bureaucracy.

In this case, the beneficiary would be the same inept crew at the Food and Drug Administration that helped create the crisis.

“There was $28 million in the bill, but I believe $23 million of it was for administrative costs and salaries,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn, said.

Read more...

Pay to Play now with the Media?

Democrats Attempt To Subsidize Journalists In New Tax Plan

The new $2.9 trillion tax plan coming from the Democrats seems to include one odd clause, a large tax credit for local news journalists.

The proposal from the Ways and Means Committee includes a “Payroll Credit for Compensation of Local News Journalists.” As reported by Editor and Publisher, which is an industry publication about journalism, the newly planned tax credit “will provide local newsrooms the opportunity to receive a five-year tax credit of up to $25,000 per journalist in the first year and up to $15,000 in the subsequent four years.”

As stated in the proposal, any local newspaper will be eligible to get the tax credit if it “serves the needs of a regional or local community” and “employs no more than 750 employees.”

Read about it... and the 5 year tax credit Democrats are proposing to the local media. Coincidentally, it would go through another Biden presidency should he be reelected. Politics all starts at the local level, so this is cunning legislation.

Biden/Dems destroying future

"I want more," says Joe biden

Biden, Bipartisan Senate Group Reach Deal on Infrastructure

President Joe Biden said he’s reached a tentative deal with a group of Democratic and Republican senators on a bipartisan, $579 billion five-year infrastructure plan that would fulfill one of his top priorities.

“We have a deal,” Biden told reporters after the senators presented their agreement to him at the White House. He said the bill would move alongside separate legislation that would spend trillions more on what he called “human infrastructure” that the GOP opposes.

“There is going to be a two-track system,” he said.

Read about all the spending

Obama spends over $2 million for October vacation

If a Republican president ever did this, impeachment proceedings would begin immediately by every outraged Democrat in Washington.  But it was Obama.  He is an exception to every rule and any Democrat following him will be more of the same. Taxpayer dollars can be cyphoned from the pot.  Isn't that the socialist way? Or is this just the way of a King?

"According to the newly released records obtained by Judicial Watch, the Obama family’s October 11 flight from Los Angeles, where he had attended three high-dollar fundraisers, to San Diego, and then from San Diego back to Washington on October 12, required a total of 4.7 hours of flying time at $206,337 per hour. That brought the total flight cost to taxpayers to $969,783.90. The records do not include the flight time to travel from Washington, DC, to Los Angeles (through Oregon, Seattle, and San Francisco), nor the Secret Service costs or other expenses."  Previously released documents show the flight time from Washington to Los Angeles to be five hours, which safely adds $1,031,685 and brings the known total to expense to...

$2,001,468.90

That's what he spent just in travel expenses alone to fundraise and play golf. Read what he has spent on vacations since elected It is SHOCKING.

We really need a fiscal conservative in The Whitehouse.

"Grab the Cash" before the next Bubble, says the city

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What do you do when you are cash poor?  You buy on credit until that dries up or you stop buying. In Lake Worth, they just keep buying as we have been operating in the red for the past two budget years. The "free lunch" is alive and better than ever. It is the hope of the city and the commission that their "grab the cash" plan will work at the polls tomorrow. They have done everything under the sun to convince you.

The commission is trashing your mailbox with junk trying to sell everyone on rebuilding our infrastructure in our tired and 100 year-old city...fixing the potholes and paving over the few streets that are still gravel.  They appeal to you that kids need sidewalks to keep them safe. Potholes are much more "right in your face" and a "selling point" to convince you to buy into their Roads Improvement 2020 plan that will obligate every property owner in this city for 30 years or more and then they will have to turn right around and fix the roads again.

Can you even imagine what you will be paying as property values rise? This is to attract development, not just the poor to whom they have been catering over the past several years by literally spending $23 million to build 138 houses dotting every poor section of our city with the hopes that those surrounded by this new housing will also improve their homes...the trickle up theory. Didn't work; never does. Now in order to raise tax revenue, they are engaging in affordable rentals..BIG TIME. They like to tell you that the one on Boutwell is NOT affordable rentals but it is according to HUD standards and definition.

But the main reason this is on the ballot is to attract developers and to change our quaint city forever.  Realtors are ready and some people are hurrying out to get their license so that they can cash in when the time is right. They are not happy with no growth and property values falling to a ridiculous low.  After all, real estate commissions are based on value.  They want to give developers a big break by YOU paying for the infrastructure at the Park of Commerce so that they might develop there. How long will it take for the city to recapture your $11 million minimum investment in that land?  Another 50 or 100 years? The government has done everything possible to ruin our city by building affordable rentals which will cause more slum, blight, the homeless, and crime. They even went so far as to not to honor the vote on heights in our downtown...a new low for any elected official.

No one is addressing this false sense of recovery that we are all experiencing at the moment.  The housing recovery seems to be just another stage of the foreclosure crisis with the same city players who regenerate whenever there is a boom. We have a lot of investors who are buying again with banks playing games. The bubble is back.

We very well might end up as we did before as this could be a false recovery. Even your property has been assessed on this "recovery." 8.9% increase in value based on what?   Institutional buyers are snapping up cheap properties. Banks, once again, are giving cheap mortgages. People are buying. We are still poor and slum and blight has no where to go. If the bubble bursts, we will have more folks in foreclosure than we did before who won't be able to pay their ad-valorem.

This commission does not listen to you.  Make them listen tomorrow when you walk into that election booth and cast your vote AGAINST.

Lake Worth - Grabbing the cash

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Grabbing the cash

Because property values are up 9.1%, and Scott Maxwell has hinted about rolling back our millage rate, the recommendation by staff is to keep it the same as last year which means you will be paying more. If Maxwell speaks out, it will only be one voice blowing in the wind. McVoy is on some religious retreat. The only religion that we all can equate to at this moment, is fairness in taxation and living within our means.

SUMMARY (on tonight's Agenda):
This Resolution will establish the Proposed Tentative Millage Rate of 5.4945, the same rate in the current Fiscal Year budget.

Based on information from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office, the FY 2015 Operating RollBack Millage is 5.0197. This Operating Roll-Back Millage is the millage rate that will generate the same property tax revenue that was generated in FY 2014. But Lake Worth, the tax and spend city, wants to tax you .4748 mills more than they have to tax.

The City says, with the inclusion of the County Fire MSTU millage 3.4581, the maximum available Operating Millage cannot exceed 6.5419 mills. This year continues a trend that began last year with an increase in the taxable value of real and personal property (9.71%). (Last night's budget presentation used the figure of 9.1%). This rate will result in an increase in the actual tax revenue collected. The 9.71% is the total increase in taxable value (including CRA district). The increase attributable to the City outside the CRA is 8.41%.

Even though they want you to fund a $63.5 MILLION General Obligation Bond for 30 plus years, they do not want to rollback the millage rate...they can't afford to. They need to grab as much cash as they possibly can. After all, our "uncontrollable costs" are estimated at 67.9% of our revenue for year 2015 out of our operating budget and according to our Finance Director, after next year if we continue to use reserves, we will have an unsustainable fund balance.

The city needs all of the tax revenue it can get. 

He always votes against bond issues

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This guy always votes against BOND issues--ALWAYS.  Read about it...

"It is the decision to run up bills on the premise that more services today are always better than living on a budget, no matter the costs to taxpayers tomorrow or to generations of taxpayers yet to be born."... "there was the classic promise of big government that more government spending will create more jobs."...It is why we always seem to get more debt and government, despite voting for countless politicians who campaign against big government and then govern as though a socialist government was elected. It is an American update of the famous British liberal leader of the 1890s, Sir William Harcourt, who said, Were all socialists now."

Thought I would throw this one in for all you tax and spenders.

Why the "over-kill?" It's a Disconnect

Lake Worth says:
Lake Worth 2020 Plan Goes to Voters
After nearly two years of meticulous planning, broad community input and extensive City Commission discussion, the Lake Worth 2020 Plan is squarely in the hands of voters.

Then the question must be, why does the City feel it necessary to spend $50,000 of taxpayer money that would come from the water, sewage and waste-water departments. There has been no campaign in modern history in Lake Worth (other than Rodney Romano) that raised and/or spent that much money to ensure a victory.

Sharon Parsons gave the 2014 Annual Citizen Survey results and said that there was a "disconnect" in this city between city hall and the residents. The City needed to increase its transparency.

If they have had two years of "broad community input," then why spend $50,000 dollars? They don't want to answer that question. If you ask, they will tell you that most of the people don't know a thing about it and they want to "educate."  So which is it?  Have they really done extensive outreach and have had "broad community input"  or is it simply a disconnect with the 15,293 registered voters. It seems to be the latter.

Educating the people on Lake Worth 2020 General Obligation Bond

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On July 4th, the City of Lake Worth had its own booth on Lake Avenue situated up from the Gulfstream Hotel. Legal Eagle Glen Torcivia, City Clerk Pam Lopez and Dolores Key, Economic Development Director were manning the booth in order to educate all of us on the Lake Worth infrastructure General Obligation Bond. Vendors were charged $150 for their booths on Lake Avenue east of Federal Highway. Was the City charged too or is this all a public service?

They had Absentee Ballots and other voting information.

The only information missing was the cost of the bond and its term--
($63.5 million for 30 plus years)
as well as any mention of the Park of Commerce.

Lake Worth Trolley might return

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Read the Palm Beach Post and Lake Worth bringing back the trolley.

The commission voted to submit the funding proposal to the Metropolitan Planning Organization requesting up to $1,650,000 in the 2014 Application Cycle of the Categorical Funding Program for funding that will become available during Fiscal Years 2016 - 2020 for implementation of a new trolley service over a three-year period in an area bounded by the Lake Worth Beach to the east, 10th Avenue North to the north, Palm Beach State College to the west and 6th Avenue South to the south. This proposed project is eligible under the “Transit Improvements” category.

The Tie-Up - Lake Worth's General Obligation Bond

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What is a lien:
A lien is an encumbrance on one person's property to secure a debt the property owner owes to another person. The statement that someone's property is "tied up" describes the effect of liens on both real and personal property. By voting in a general obligation bond for over three decades until paid off, you have legally tied-up your property during that term. Source:  The Free Dictionary

What is a bond:
The contract between the borrower and the lender. By approving this debt on August 26, 2014, you (the property owner), are promising to repay the monies borrowed. This will be done via taxes. The Lake Worth 2020 General Obligation Bond is for $63.5 million along with a humongous debt service with a final payment in year 2049. It is estimated that you will be paying $131 million by the end of the term. Whoever holds the deed on the property that this bond affects will be obligated ("tied-up") for 34 years.

Bond Ratings:
In the purest sense, the credit analysis of a General Obligation bond centers on two issues: (1) the municipality’s willingness to pay and (2) its willingness to pay its debts in a timely manner. The two main ratings companies for municipal bonds are Moody’s and S&P. The basic difference between the ways that the two ratings companies analyze bonds is that, while Moody’s concentrates on debt burdens and debt ratios, S&P focuses on the socioeconomic base of a community (e.g. per capita growth trends, total personal income). We already have been told that we are among the poorest city in Palm Beach County with 2,000 foreclosures and abandoned properties. These properties, owned by banks that have not foreclosed, will generate NO taxes towards this obligation. Source: The Muni Bond Adviser

According to our Finance Director:  "The city does not have a current debt rating for we have no outstanding debt for our general government operations." So, look for Lake Worth to pay a higher rate based on Lake Worth being known for its poverty, the number of foreclosures and the number of abandoned properties.

If Property owners can't or don't pay
If local property owners do not pay their property taxes on time in any given year, a government entity is required to increase its property tax rate by as much as is legally allowable in a following year to make up for any delinquencies. In the interim between the taxpayer delinquency and the higher property tax rate in the following year, the general obligation pledge requires the local government to pay debt service coming due with its available resources. Source: Wikipedia

Security Lien:
If you don't pay, you could be foreclosed upon. Land-based municipal bonds have many of the characteristics of real estate loans. However, the security lien is senior to all real estate loans on the property, because the bonds are secured via the property tax lien. Second, the funds from the bond issue are customarily used to fund public infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, sewer and water lines, etc.) that directly benefits the property responsible to pay off the bonds. Therefore, the bond proceeds directly enhance the value of the property. And that is what Lake Worth wants you to believe. Source:  Fidelity

Finally, if some property owner(s) should default on this tax, it is customary and highly likely that a judicial foreclosure process will occur. You don't/can't pay, look to lose your property.

On the Consent Agenda

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On Tuesday night, there is a total of  12 items on the Consent Agenda. Not much has to be discussed any more with this administration. This should get them out of the chamber long before The O'Reilly Factor starts. No longer are there interviews for volunteer board members...takes way too much commission time to be bothered with that and besides, why would the public want to know or meet these people--some who make quasi-judicial decisions and one who is also part of the good ole boy network.

NEW TROLLEY

The City intends to submit an application requesting up to $1,650,000 in the 2014 Application Cycle of the Categorical Funding Program for funding that will become available during Fiscal Years 2016 - 2020 for implementation of a new trolley service over a three-year period in an area bounded by the Lake Worth Beach to the east, 10th Avenue North to the north, Palm Beach State College to the west and 6th Avenue South to the south. This proposed project is eligible under the “Transit Improvements” category. The deadline to submit a proposal is July 11, 2014, and the actual amount of funding to be requested has not yet been determined. No cash or in/kind services match is required of the City for this funding. Perhaps if we get it we can call it, once again, Lolly the Trolley.

VOLUNTEER BOARD APPOINTMENTS:

City Recreation Advisory Board: Mayor’s reappointment of Jamas Ward for a term ending on July 31, 2017

City Tree Board: Mayor’s appointment of Deborah Crawford to fill an unexpired term ending on July 31, 2016

Historic Resources Preservation Advisory Board: Commissioner Amoroso’s reappointment of Wes Blackman for a term ending on July 31, 2017
plus
Commissioner Szerdi’s appointment of Darrin Engel to fill an unexpired term ending in July 31, 2017

Planning and Zoning Board: Commissioner Amoroso’s appointment of Cynthia Brown to fill an unexpired term ending on July 31, 2015

Firefighters’ Trust Fund Board of Trustees: Vice Mayor’s reappointment of Valerie Hurley for a term ending in July 31, 2016

Letter to the Editor - Lake Worth Forgot to ask the Residents

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Letters to the Editor
Palm Beach Post
June 29, 2014

Oops, forgot to ask the Residents

Lake Worth Needs Inclusive Planning

Just like “Six Plans to Make Lake Worth a Better Place,” targeting developers and investors to show how Lake Worth should look in the future; the baseball stadium in John Prince Park, a boondoggle for special interests that was determined not feasible; and now Lake Worth 2020 is yet another public relations effort promising a fix for all that ails us.

The visionaries who serve us have lost sight of Lake Worth. Our location, our people, our natural resources are assets worthy of praise. And yes, ours is a poor city with an old infrastructure. We do need a plan. We need a plan that considers future climate instability, sea-level rise, and temperature increases, and the effects of building, paving, and increased water and sewer use. And especially, we need a plan that includes the needs of our residents and welcomes their input.

Any plan to borrow $60 million from taxpayers deserves great deliberation. There has been little citizen outreach, no charettes, no workshops, and only the four quickly contrived “town hall meetings” rushed to fulfill the requirements of ballot inclusion for the August primary.

The leaders of Lake Worth seem to have all the answers; unfortunately, they haven’t asked the right questions. And they forgot to ask the people.

JO-ANN GOLDEN, LAKE WORTH

Utility taxes on the rise in Lake Worth - A City in Crisis?

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You want to talk about a city that is going to sock it to ya? Do you want to talk about a city that will be totally unaffordable to live in especially if the voters vote in this bond? Do you want to talk about a city that simply can't afford itself? When does a municipality admit that it is sinking or has already sunk?

“For at least the last 20 years major U.S. cities have been playgrounds for left-wing experiments—high taxes on the rich; sanctuaries for illegal immigrants; super-minimum wage rules; strict gun-control laws; regulations and paperwork that makes it onerous o open a business or develop on your own property; crony capitalism with contracts going to political donors and friends; and failing schools ruled by teacher unions, with little competition or productivity.” Steve Moore, Chief Economist with The Heritage Foundation.

And even though we are not a major city, we have experienced many of the same situations. Property values have fallen to a ridiculous low and our city can't afford itself. So what do they do?  They plan to tax you "every which way but loose." Even if the general obligation bond referendum fails, they will be taxing you to the max. Do you think taxes ever go away?

On The Agenda Tuesday and NO BACK-UP DOCUMENTS for most of it and you don't get to speak!

A. Discuss Fiscal Year 2015 proposed budget - estimated time 2 hours

1) Water, Local, and Regional Sewer Funds
2) Beach Fund
3) Golf Fund
4) Library Trust, Simpkin Trust
5) Code Remediation Fund
6) Building Funds

Are the water or sewer rates going up in FY 2014?

· YES, the water rates are increasing per the recommendations of the rate consultant.

· YES, the local sewer rates are increasing per the recommendations of the rate consultant due to the increasing pass through costs from the ECR wastewater facility.

 · YES, the Regional sewer rates are increasing per the recommendations of the rate consultant due to the increasing pass through costs from the ECR wastewater facility.

 Are the Water/Sewer Budgets going up in FY 2014?

· Water Fund: YES: FY14 $19,207,381 FY15 $22,011,324 ($ 2,803,943 increase-15%) Operating revenues are sufficient for operating expenses, debt service and contribution to general fund of $1 million. The FY 15 budget includes capital projects of $2,230,000, which are paid from reserves, and additional $ 6,151,000 transfer from reserves planned for the LW 2020 project in FY 2015. The increase in Administration expense is offset by a reduction in non-departmental expenses. The budget increase is due to the increased capital outlays in FY 2015, including the transfers to the LW2020 project. Utility rate studies recommend cash reserves of 33% of the operating budget ($5 million), which are maintained in the FY15 budget.

· Local Sewer Fund: YES: FY14 $8,526,912 FY15 $10,508,231 ($1,981,319 increase- 23%) Approx. 45% of this budget is for contracted wastewater transmission/treatment services, Operating revenues are sufficient for operating expenses, debt service and contribution to general fund of $0.2 million. The FY 15 budget includes capital projects of $568,000, which are mostly paid from reserves, and additional $2,094,000 transfer from reserves planned for the LW 2020 project in FY 2015. The increase in Administration expense is offset by a reduction in pumping expenses. The budget increase is due to the increased capital outlays in FY 2015, including the transfers to the LW2020 project.

· Regional Sewer Fund: YES: FY14 $6,430,639 FY15 $6,524,246 ($93,607 increase –1%) The Regional Sewer Fund was adjusted based on the settlement agreement reached with contracted sub-regional customers in FY 2013. A true-up calculation was completed based on audited FY 13 financial reports. The Regional Sewer Fund budget has been adjusted based on the planned 50% increase in the ECR wastewater fees for the capital improvements at the plant. The city treats out of town customers better than its own residents.