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Lake Clarke Shores adopts 5.995-mill rate, approves $9.8 million budget and five-year CIP with dredging and paving added
Summary
At a Sept. 24 public hearing the Town Council set a final millage rate of 5.995 mills, adopted the 2024-25 budget and approved a five-year capital improvement element that adds $10 million for waterway dredging and increases paving allocations.
The Town Council of the Town of Lake Clarke Shores voted Sept. 24 to set a final millage rate of 5.995 mills for fiscal year 2024–25 and to adopt the town’s $9.8 million final budget and an updated five-year capital improvement element.
The vote came at the final public hearing required under Florida law. Town Manager Joe told the council and residents the adopted 5.995 mills is 7.76% greater than the rollback rate of 5.5634 and that the council had worked to reduce the millage in consecutive years. "The announcement is the Town of Lake Clark Shores setting and fixing the final millage rate to be levied at 5.995 mills, which is 7.76% over the rollback rate of 5.5634," Joe read aloud when presenting the resolutions.
Why it matters: the town says the adopted rate and budget are intended to cover capital needs that have been under discussion for months while limiting property-tax increases for homesteaded properties. Joe told the council that, because Florida law caps assessed-value increases for homesteaded properties, the town’s change in millage translates to roughly a 1% increase in the town portion of the tax bill for most homesteaded homeowners.
Most important facts first: the council adopted Resolution 2024-22 to set the millage and Resolution 2024-23 to adopt the budget. Council action also approved a five-year capital improvement element the town manager and Vice Mayor John Maples had amended to include two items the town said would help with grants and planning: a $10 million dredging line item for waterways and a larger paving allocation in year two of the plan. Joe explained that including projects in the capital improvement element can improve the town’s score for state and federal grant applications.
Supporting details: Joe told the council the tentative millage had been set previously and that staff and council had worked through multiple workshops since May. He said the tentative millage had already been reduced from earlier levels; the adopted 5.995 is lower than the 6.1 mills proposed in July. Vice Mayor John Maples moved to approve the amended capital improvement element and Council Member Taylor Metirio seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. Council then moved and passed motions to adopt the final millage and the final budget.
The council and staff stressed the budget is a working document. Joe and other council members noted capital pressures such as bridge repairs and sewer planning that informed the CIP. Joe said the CIP is a plan, not a binding commitment: it lists possible projects (bridges, septic-to-sewer transitions, paving, dredging) to document needs and to support future grant applications.
What residents asked: several residents commented during the budget hearing, raising concerns about bridge costs, road maintenance and vehicle and personnel spending; the town manager and council answered questions on how grant dollars and past state awards had been used and why some projects must be planned now to be competitive for outside funding.
Looking ahead: the resolutions take effect upon adoption and the town manager and staff said they will continue to refine project timing and pursue grants. The five-year plan is posted on the town website for public review, Joe said.
