Council member recommends holding Lake Park millage rate at 6.219 after public hearing

Council Member Carl Spano, serving as the city—s budget officer, recommended on Oct. 21 that the City of Lake Park hold its property millage rate at 6.219 rather than increase it to a proposed 6.5, saying council and staff reviewed budget cuts including reductions in employee health benefits and other line items to limit the need for a rate increase. "Hold the existing millage rate of 6.219, rather than raise it to the previously proposed 6.5," Spano told the public hearing.

Mayor Jena Sandlin opened the final of three public hearings on the millage rate and set ground rules that public comments would be limited to three minutes and focused on property taxes. She said the hearings were intended to give residents a chance to ask questions and provide input as the council reviewed costs and options.

Residents at the hearing raised several concerns. Gloria Luke of 201 4-H Club Road asked whether the mayor or council could direct police to issue warnings instead of citations; Mayor Sandlin said enforcement and ticketing were outside the scope of the millage hearing and that comments would be limited to tax matters. Luke also warned that rezoning commercial property to residential would shift more of the tax burden onto residents.

Susan Keckley of 315 4-H Club Road asked whether the city had discussed hurricane preparedness since Hurricane Helene and whether local shelters (for example at the school) had been considered; Mayor Sandlin said city staff had remained in touch with county emergency officials about preparedness. Patricia Brown of 809 Main Street asked whether public commenters could address matters other than taxes; the mayor reiterated the hearing was limited to property tax discussion and that other concerns could be raised at the next regular meeting.

Spano provided clarifications in response to resident questions: he described Lake Park as primarily a "bedroom community," said the 2020 census recorded 976 residents and that current population is likely closer to 1,300, and confirmed the city has mutual aid agreements with the county for fire and police response. He also corrected a likely typographical error in earlier minutes, saying the fire radio lease/purchase is $15,000 per year rather than $150,000 per year as previously printed.

The mayor closed the public hearing and adjourned so the council could convene a called meeting. No formal vote on a final millage rate was recorded in the public hearing minutes; the hearing record shows council discussion and public input that the council may consider in future action.