Dozens of Delray Beach residents, hotel and restaurant operators and cultural advocates addressed the City Commission on Sept. 3 in support of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), saying the DDA’s events, visitor services and marketing are central to downtown foot traffic and small‑business revenue.

Speakers including restaurant owners, the Cornell Art Museum’s docent volunteers, Arts Garage leadership and business owners described the DDA’s role operating Old School Square programs, downtown events such as Savor the Ave and Jazz on the Ave, the visitor information center, safety ambassador and beautification efforts. "The DDA stimulates, enhances and sustains the economic vitality of Downtown Delray Beach," DDA director Laura Simon told the commission, summarizing the agency’s statutory mission.

Public testimony included multiple small‑business owners who said the DDA’s promotional work and events materially support their revenue, and museum and arts leaders who reported steady increases in visitation tied to DDA programming and exhibition partnerships. Several speakers asked the commission to continue the DDA’s 50‑year history as a dependent special taxing district and to maintain the proposed 1‑mill levy for the upcoming fiscal year.

At the meeting the city manager and finance director described the practical budget mechanics: the DDA’s 1‑mill maximum levy is set by state statute; rising property values in the district mean a 1‑mill levy would increase the DDA’s revenue year‑over‑year. Commissioners discussed a separate, ongoing internal audit of the city’s interlocal agreement (ILA) with the DDA and Old School Square expenditures and the need to withhold any changes to the ILA until the internal auditor completes her review.

After public comment the commission certified the DDA’s tentative operating millage at the statutory 1‑mill cap as part of the county tax‑rate certification process (resolution 181‑25). The roll call vote was 3–1, with Mayor Kearney voting no and the other commissioners voting to set the DDA tentative rate at 1 mill. Several commissioners said they supported the DDA’s mission and events but insisted on a formal review of the ILA transparency and expenditures before making longer‑term changes to the city’s payments or contract terms.

City staff and the commission scheduled further review and pledged to provide the audit findings to commissioners before the final budget adoption hearing. The commission directed staff to bring an in‑room workshop on Sept. 15 to discuss potential offsets or adjustments in the city budget and the DDA contribution, to be informed by the auditor’s report and by staff recommendations.