Loxahatchee Groves council raises millage, directs review of sheriff contract and plans one-time resident rebate

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council voted 4-1 on Sept. 17 to adopt a 3.2564 millage rate and to approve the town's fiscal 2025-26 budget after lengthy public comment and internal debate over the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office contract and a proposal to return money to residents.

The council's action front-loaded revenue to preserve town services while also directing staff to pursue options on the PBSO contract and to set aside funds to ensure coverage while those options are evaluated. Council voted to move $120,000 from contingency back to the public safety line to cover roughly two months of the PBSO payment while the attorney investigates renegotiation or other remedies.

Why it matters: The vote followed public appeals from residents who urged the council to reduce spending or return excess funds to homeowners. Supporters of the higher millage and revised budget argued the extra revenue preserves municipal services and allows the town to maintain staffing and short-term capital needs. Opponents said the town should not double-pay for county law enforcement and asked that council pursue ending or cutting the PBSO contract.

What the council decided and why - Millage and budget: The council adopted resolution 2025-71 setting the millage at 3.2564 (4-1). The town then approved the overall fiscal-year budget (resolution 2025-72) with amendments directing $120,000 from contingency be placed in the public safety account to cover PBSO for approximately two months (vote 4-1). The council also directed staff to identify a 5% reduction across town spending and return to council with specific suggestions. - PBSO contract: The council did not terminate the PBSO contract on Sept. 17. Instead, it instructed the town attorney to explore options to renegotiate or otherwise address the multiyear contract and directed staff to report back while the $120,000 bridge payment is used to keep coverage in place.

Resident concerns and council responses Residents at the meeting urged fiscal restraint and questioned large personnel and contract costs. An emailed public commenter, Fran Holden, urged the council: “Please do not cut the sheriff. Cut spending as recommended by FACT. Let the manager's contract expire. Wait for the outcome of the investigations.” Other residents pressed the council for clarity about how any rebate would be calculated and how public safety service levels might change if the town reduced PBSO spending.

Council members said they were balancing competing priorities: preserve core public safety and town services while responding to resident calls for lower taxes and tighter spending. Several council members insisted on further study and legal review before making changes to a multiyear contract.

Next steps and implementation - Staff was directed to: (1) analyze 5% cost-reduction options and return recommended line-item cuts; (2) have the town attorney begin a legal analysis and negotiations regarding the PBSO contract; and (3) if feasible, return to council with a plan for a one-time resident rebate tied to the millage decision. The council set aside the contingency funds to preserve flexibility while staff and counsel do the work.

Context and background The discussion occurred during the town's second public hearing on the budget. Several residents and council members reiterated that town staffing, contract obligations and recent capital work (notably earlier road projects) have stretched reserves. The council emphasized that any future changes to public safety provision would be informed by legal analysis and consultation with PBSO and would be brought back for a formal council vote.

Ending Council members said they expect more detailed cost-savings recommendations from staff and a legal memo from the town attorney before any final decision to alter the PBSO contract is made. The council recessed the meeting to reconvene the next evening for remaining agenda items.