Tequesta budget workshop: council pauses Remembrance Park phase 2, reviews rate increases and capital projects

Village of Tequesta staff presented a draft 2025–26 budget at a council budget workshop, outlining a $4,333,625 increase over the prior year and proposing rate and capital changes. Councilors discussed the use of reserves for park construction, planned water and stormwater projects, refuse assessments, and vehicle and facility replacements, and expressed a majority view to delay Remembrance Park Phase 2 construction and further planning for now.

The budget documents staff reviewed show an overall increase of $4,333,625 driven largely by public safety salaries and personnel costs and higher capital spending for infrastructure. Staff said the general fund increase is roughly $1,000,000 (mainly public safety salaries) plus an additional $400,000 for non-represented CWA personnel costs; transfers are increasing by about $550,000. Staff also reported that the village’s taxable value rose 8.4%, largely from new construction and property sales, and that the village has not proposed a millage increase; the millage was set at 6.4595 at the July 10 council meeting and public hearings were scheduled for Sept. 4 and Sept. 11.

Why it matters: the changes affect residents’ bills, fund balances available for capital projects and emergencies, and timing of infrastructure work. Staff projected that, if the millage remains at 6.4595, the average home in Tequesta (assumed value cited by staff) would see an annual tax increase of about $109 compared with the prior year’s figures presented by staff.

Major budget points discussed

- Fund totals and reserves: Staff displayed summary fund slides showing the proposed budget and fund balances. Even using fund balance for certain items, staff projected an ending general-fund position about $357,000 above a three-month target and estimated an ending unrestricted net position for enterprise…