Loxahatchee Groves council sets road-and-drainage assessment at $220 per acre after heated budget debate

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. Sept. 3 The Town Council set the tentative road-and-drainage assessment at $220 per acre on a 5-0 vote Sept. 3 after a night of public comment and council discussion about salaries, grant strategy and capital needs.

The decision came during a lengthy budget hearing in which Chief Finance Officer David Delena presented the draft fiscal 2025-26 budget and said staff had based planning on a three-mill scenario. "We based the budget on three mills," Delena said. The council then voted to set the non-ad valorem road-and-drainage rate at $220 per acre; the roll-call vote was Council Member Coleman: yes; Council Member El Ramey: yes; Council Member McClendon: yes; Vice Mayor Herzog: yes; Mayor Cain: yes.

Why it matters: the road-and-drainage assessment funds the town's road maintenance and basic drainage operations. Residents and council members said the town has deferred maintenance for years and faces growing costs for engineering, flood mitigation, and ongoing capital projects. The council continued formal adoption of the millage and budget to a second hearing, reconvening Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

Most important facts

- The council voted 5-0 to set the road-and-drainage assessment at $220 per acre. The vote was made during the Sept. 3 meeting and the council scheduled a continuation of remaining budget hearings for Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

- CFO David Delena told the council staff prepared a tentative budget that anticipates about 4.9% revenue growth and that the townhas limited remaining reserves after using one-time funds for prior projects. He described the budget as prioritizing reserves and capital transfers.

- Residents repeatedly urged both fiscal restraint and continued pursuit of grants. Joe Siciliano, a resident who urged the town to pursue grant funding, said, "Fix the town with free money, our money. Let's go get it." Victor Leto, another resident, criticized salary increases and told the council some staff raises appeared large: "they're getting 31% raises, 33% raises."

Debate, dissent and next steps

Public comment focused on two tensions: whether the town should pursue more grant-funded projects that may require matching funds or commitments, and whether the townshould cut administrative costs instead of raising assessments. Several residents asked the council to freeze nonessential hires and to limit recent salary increases for staff members who have been employed fewer than 12 months.

During discussion council members and staff emphasized constraints: some capital projects have already been budgeted or are tied to outside funding; other needed work would exceed the resources available without either higher assessments, borrowing, or major cuts in service. Council members requested a series of drainage workshops to clarify priorities, potential assessment mechanisms with time-limited repayment, and where savings could be found if the council wanted a lower assessment.

Formal actions and procedure

- Motion and outcome: Motion to set the road-and-drainage assessment at $220 per acre. Mover: Council Member El Ramey. Second: Council Member McClendon. Vote: 5-0 (Coleman, El Ramey, McClendon, Vice Mayor Herzog, Mayor Cain). Outcome: approved.

- The council voted to continue the second public hearings on the millage, solid-waste assessment and budget adoption to Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. (continuance approved by council vote).

- Earlier in the meeting the council approved the meeting agenda (passed 5-0).

What was not decided

The council did not adopt a final millage rate or the final budget on Sept. 3; those items were continued for the mandated second public hearing. No permanent staff cuts or hires were approved on Sept. 3; council members discussed potential reorganization and recommended options to staff to address budget gaps.

Context and local significance

The council and residents framed the vote as a choice between immediate service levels and long-term fiscal sustainability. Road-and-drainage assessments have not been raised since 2019; staff said operating costs (notably engineering and staff) have since increased. Several residents and council members urged creative, transparent options such as time-limited assessments for defined projects or targeted assessments for specific neighborhoods while others urged using grants and outside funding to avoid raising local assessments.

Ending

The council recessed the Sept. 3 meeting and scheduled a continuation for Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. to complete the public hearings on millage, solid waste and the final budget. Residents who testified said they plan to return for the continuation to press both for fiscal restraint and for priorities on roads, drainage and grants.