Lake Clark Shores adopts 5.9-mill tax rate, approves five-year capital improvement element

LAKE CLARK SHORES, Fla. — The Lake Clark Shores Town Council on Monday adopted a final millage rate of 5.9 mills for fiscal year 2025–2026 and approved the town’s five-year capital improvement element, town staff said.

Town Manager Joe Lobello presented the budget materials and announced the millage adoption during the council’s budget hearing. "This is our last budget meeting. . . the town of Lake Clark Shores setting and fixing a millage rate to be levied at 5.9 mills," Lobello said, adding that the rate is 4.93% above the rollback rate of 5.6228 mills and that the presentation had not changed since the council’s previous review.

The millage rate was formalized in Resolution No. 2025-19, read in full at the meeting, which stated the town held required public hearings and published notice in the Palm Beach Post on Sept. 11, 2025. The resolution says the 5.9 mills will be levied on the nonexempt valuation of real and tangible personal property in the town.

Council members moved and seconded the resolution; the motion carried and the rate was adopted. Council later approved a five-year capital improvement element required by the town comprehensive plan. Lobello said the CIP is intended to support planning and to improve competitiveness for certain grants: "If you put [a project] in there and you have it in your capital improvement element, you can get points on a grant." The first year of the CIP reflects projects already approved; years 2027–2031 are projections.

Public comment on the budget included resident Tim Daughtry, who urged the council to prioritize infrastructure: "Most of this pipe is past design life," Daughtry said, noting asbestos cement pipe in parts of the town’s system and calling for closer scrutiny of road and storm-sewer needs. Lobello and other staff acknowledged the town has aging water infrastructure and noted that replacement work is being funded from the utility fund when discovered during capital projects.

The council did not change the budget numbers from the prior presentation, Lobello said. The council approved the millage adoption and the five-year capital improvement element before adjourning the budget hearing and moving into regular council business.

Why it matters: The millage sets the property tax rate for the next fiscal year; the capital improvement element documents the town’s priorities and can affect grant eligibility and scoring.

What’s next: The council and staff said more detailed project timing and grant-seeking will follow; residents were directed to the town website for the full budget presentation.