Boca Raton council adopts fiscal 2024-25 budget, trims millage after vacancy cuts

The Boca Raton City Council adopted the city's final fiscal 2024-25 budget on Sept. 23 and approved an amended millage rate after staff recommended eliminating several long-vacant positions to pass savings to taxpayers. Council also adopted a five-year capital improvements program; all measures passed by unanimous votes.

Sharon McGuire, the city's director of management and budget, told the council the proposed budget aligns with the city's stated priorities — community safety, financial soundness, quality of life and mobility — and that the general fund increase for the year is about $21,904,700, driven largely by public safety costs, salaries and pension increases. McGuire outlined new programs and roughly 10 new full-time positions proposed for the general fund and another 10 in other funds.

Jim Zervos, the city's financial services director, said removing several vacant positions would modestly lower the tax rate. "If we adjust the millage rate for that $170,000 that reduces the overall millage rate to 3.6734, down from 3.6782, and reduces the percentage over the rollback rate from 6.92% to 6.78%," he said. The council directed staff to incorporate those adjustments into Ordinance 5704 before adoption.

Councilors debated a set of nonprofit awards added as an exhibit to the budget. Some members urged sticking to the established application timeline to avoid setting a precedent for late additions; others advocated for making modest awards this year to two long-standing, city-based organizations. Deputy Mayor Drucker acknowledged a submission error and told colleagues, "It was my fault, but what I submitted to staff was an extra 0 on those." After line-by-line discussion, council agreed on adjustments and staff read a recap of the revised nonprofit allocations.

Following staff corrections to the ordinance language and the amended exhibits, Mayor (presiding) called for votes. The council adopted Ordinance 5704 (final millage) as amended and Ordinance 5703 (final budget and appropriations), each by a 5-0 roll-call vote. The council then adopted Resolution 91-2024, the fiscal year 2025-2030 capital improvements program, also by a unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 5704 (final millage), adopted as amended, vote 5-0; Ordinance 5703 (final budget), adopted with amended exhibits, vote 5-0; Resolution 91-2024 (FY25-30 CIP), adopted, vote 5-0.

The council adjourned the hearing at 6:59 p.m.