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Lighthouse Point tentatively adopts FY2024–25 budget; commissioners cite stormwater, fire equipment and canal dredging as drivers
Summary
City administration proposed a $26.5 million general fund budget and identified major capital needs—canal dredging, a ladder truck and rescue unit—while a resident urged caution over rising tax revenue; commissioners tentatively approved the budget 5-0 and set a second hearing for Sept. 18.
City Administrator Corey presented the tentative operating budget for fiscal year 2024–25, saying the recommended general fund budget is $26,546,563 and is balanced without using surplus. He told the commission the overall budget is about 13% higher than the current year and described major capital and operating items that the budget would support, including a 75-foot ladder truck (listed at $1.2 million), a rescue unit ($381,000), canal dredging (total project $1.4 million; transfer of approximately $1,389,000 proposed to an infrastructure fund), and recreation improvements including tennis center upgrades and basketball-court renovations.
Corey said the garbage and trash fund budget is $2,474,257 and that proposed changes would decrease the residential monthly fee by $6.82 (about $81.84 annually). He also described the stormwater utility fund (single-family charge $300/year) and noted the 2019 debt-service fund will decrease to 0.2689 mills.
During the public hearing period, resident George Casas (online) expressed frustration at rising city revenues and millage, saying residents are seeing year-over-year increases and asking whether third-party vendors that use city parks could pay higher fees. "We're going up well over 10% year over year in revenue," Casas said, adding that he believed cumulative revenue increases since 2022 were substantially higher. City officials responded by outlining capital needs and prior grants and ARPA funds that were used for bridge repairs and other infrastructure.
After discussion about specific revenue drivers'including state pension (FRS) cost increases, vehicle and equipment replacement, insurance estimates, and drainage projects'a motion to adopt the tentative budget (general fund, garbage/trash fund, stormwater fund, and 2019 debt-service fund) and to set the second public hearing for Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Point City Hall was made, seconded and approved 5-0.
