Resident urges CRA to remove extra millage for Gateway 7 businesses; audited financials approved

Dennis Conklin, a Plantation resident who signed up to speak, used his public-comment time to contest an extra millage rate applied to businesses in the Gateway 7 district and to highlight figures in the CRA’s audited financial statements.

Conklin cited the CAFR's TIF revenue figures and asked the commission to "withdraw the extra millage rate again ... from the Gateway 7 businesses," saying TIF growth has reduced the need for an additional millage on those businesses. He noted the CRA and district funds shown in the CAFR and argued the district is producing revenues that should alter local tax treatment for businesses in the area.

Following public comment, the CRA approved item 1 (the CRA audited financial statements) as part of the consent agenda. The motion to approve was seconded and passed on roll call; votes were recorded and the item was adopted. Conklin also used general public comment to request that redevelopment of the Plantation General Hospital site be limited to three stories and asked for the updated grand opening date for the emergency center (staff confirmed May 7 at 9 a.m.).

The transcript records Conklin’s fiscal concern but does not show staff or commissioners taking immediate action on his millage request; the commission approved the audited financials and moved on to a substantive discussion of a separate acquisition request.