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Tequesta reviews $52.5 million proposed budget; playground, water-plant repairs highlighted
Summary
Village finance director Jeff Snyder presented a $52.5 million FY2026–27 proposed budget that increases public-safety spending and transfers $1 million to capital; the council discussed replacing Constitution Park’s playground (quoted at $659,000 vs budgeted $536,000) and advancing a water-treatment pipe repair from $175,000 to $400,000.
Jeff Snyder, the Village of Tequesta finance director, told the council at a July 20 budget workshop that staff has closed much of the gap since the June meeting and that the proposed FY2026–27 budget now stands at roughly $52.5 million — about a $2 million (4.2%) increase from last year.
Snyder said final tax rolls and recent assessments raised ad valorem revenue by $59,006.50 and that the village expects a $140,000 federal grant the council will transfer to capital to help pay for a radio migration project. He said public-safety personnel and salary costs account for much of the increase, noting public safety rose by about $587,000.
The manager and Snyder walked the council through the five-year capital plan and identified several projects staff recommends moving forward. On the playground at Constitution Park, staff provided an updated replacement quote of $659,000; the budget currently includes $536,000, leaving a projected shortfall of about $123,000 that staff proposed covering from reserves or reducing scope. "It's 20 years old," the village manager said of the playground, describing why replacement is needed and noting alternative surfacing options such as turf or mulch.
Snyder described a water-treatment-plant repair: an aging section of fiberglass-reinforced pipe previously budgeted at $175,000 would require a larger replacement, and staff recommended increasing that line item to $400,000 and advancing PFAS-related work to save mobilization costs. "We found that we had a section that was leaking and another section needed to be replaced," he said, recommending the work be moved up in the schedule.
Council members asked practical questions about the playground surfacing — maintenance, repair logistics, and whether the rubber surface requires shutting down the whole park for repairs — and requested staff provide comparative cost and maintenance data for rubber, turf and mulch. Council member (S1) said mulch is more natural and cheaper in near-term maintenance, while others noted rubberized surfaces require less frequent replacement.
The presentation also reviewed nonutility enterprise funds: the water fund includes roughly $15 million in projects; refuse and stormwater were described as trending healthy; and the vehicle-replacement fund was shown with a plan near $696,000. Snyder said staff has identified potential savings and transfers but characterized the budget as "a work in progress" that will return for formal adoption at upcoming hearings.
Next steps: staff will provide the additional cost comparisons and formal updated quotes for the playground and a revised line-item for the water plant, then bring amended budget documents back to council for final hearings and adoption.
