Boca Raton adopts tentative 2024–25 budget and millage; council approves user-fee changes after debate on golf rates

Mayor Singer and the Boca Raton City Council on Monday adopted the city’s tentative budget and proposed millage rates for fiscal year 2024–25 and approved several fee and assessment measures that staff said will support public-safety and infrastructure investments.

The council adopted Resolution 87-2024, setting a total proposed millage of 3.6782 mills (a small decline from 3.6783), and Resolution 88-2024, the tentative budget for the same fiscal year. The millage proposal was presented by Sharon McGuire, the city’s Office of Management & Budget director, who said assessed value in the city is shown at about $37.6 billion and that the city’s share of a resident’s property-tax dollar is roughly 21.49 percent. McGuire said general-fund revenues are projected at about $233.5 million while expenditures are proposed at about $244.6 million, with most cost increases in police and fire salaries and pension obligations.

“The millage rate is slightly lower for next year than for the current year — it’s a millage rate of 3.6782 from 3.6783,” McGuire said during the presentation. She also noted the city will keep the fire-assessment fee at $155 for single-family residences.

The budget package includes about $1.5 million in new program funding and roughly 10 new general-fund positions, including a police officer, a homeless liaison and a park ranger; additional positions are proposed in permitting, water and sewer, and information technology. McGuire outlined a fund-balance plan with approximately $24.5 million set aside (about 10 percent of expenditures) and other designated reserves for hurricane disaster and Corps of Engineers work.

McGuire also presented the capital improvements plan, which staff said ties projects to the city’s strategic priorities and shows more than $1 billion in the multiyear program; next fiscal-year projects were listed at roughly $276.15 million with vehicles and equipment budgeted at about $10.94 million. Major projects noted included railroad-crossing work on Jeffrey Street, the Southwest 4th Avenue widening, Sanborn Square renovations and water and sewer rehabilitation and upgrades.

Votes on budget measures were unanimous for the millage and tentative budget. Resolution 87-2024 passed 5–0; Resolution 88-2024 also passed 5–0.

The council then considered Resolution 89-2024, which adopts the fire-service assessment schedule for FY2024–25. City Manager Brown confirmed the assessment remains unchanged from last year at $155 for single-family residences; the council approved the resolution 5–0.

City Manager Brown introduced Jean Michel Nault, the compliance auditor in financial services, to present Resolution 90-2024, an amended municipal facilities and services user-fee schedule effective Oct. 1, 2024. Nault said many fees are adjusted annually by the consumer price index (using the June CPI for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach region, 3.5 percent) and outlined specific changes: CPI-driven increases to cemetery, water, sewer and stormwater fees; a proposed 4 percent increase to municipal residential and commercial collection services; elimination of a public-notice escrow deposit in favor of a flat administration and public-notice fee (made possible by a recent ordinance), and a consolidation of some financial-services search fees into a single $150 fee.

Nault also presented proposed modest increases to recreation and golf fees. For example, Red Reef Executive Golf Course winter resident nine-hole fees were listed rising from $23 to $25, and Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club resident 18-hole winter fees from $85 to $91.

Several council members questioned the golf-fee increases and asked staff for participation and rounds-played data to justify the changes; Council Member Wagner urged the council to consider retirees on fixed incomes and proposed keeping the golf fees the same. Brown and staff said they can collect supporting data and that staff has flexibility to adjust fees during the year through marketing and other measures.

After discussion, the council voted 4–1 to adopt Resolution 90-2024 as presented; one council member dissented. The council did not adopt an immediate amendment to hold golf fees steady, and staff said it could bring additional data and possible changes at the final budget hearing or later in the fiscal year.

The council closed the public hearing and was reminded that the final budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at 6 p.m. The meeting adjourned at about 6:41 p.m.