Coconut Creek Commission Approves Property Tax Increase to Fund Public Safety Enhancements

by David Volz August 8, 2024

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Credit: Coconut Creek Police Department

The Coconut Creek Commission held a budget workshop on August 7 and set the not-to-exceed millage rate of 6.8988. This is an increase from last year’s rate of 6.4463, so homeowners will see an increase of 0.4525.

According to city manager Sheila Rose, 5,374 homes would see a tax increase of $136 per year, and 992 homes would increase by $230 per year, but most homeowners will only see a slight increase, which their assessed value will determine.

According to Rose, the annual fire assessment rates for single-family homes are proposed to increase by 7 percent to $302.96, $272,67 for multi-family homes, and $151.48 for mobile homes. The solid waste collection and disposal rate for single-family homes is proposed to remain at $342.89 per year.

The total proposed fiscal year budgeted expenditures for all city funds is $222,742,330, and the proposed general fund will be $131,719,000, according to Rose.

“An important point is that we are investing in public safety. We are going to build a new fire station and make major renovations and additions to the police station,” said Rose.

The police station was built in the 1980s, and there have been no upgrades. However, the city’s population has increased, and a storage area for body cameras is needed. The station needs to be renovated and hardened for hurricanes, and a new addition will be added, according to Rose.

“There is never a desire to raise taxes, but we need to do this to maintain our high quality of public service,” said Rose.

Commissioner Jeffrey Wasserman said the millage rate increase was necessary to provide residents with better public services. “We made a tough decision, which allows us not to kick the can down the road and handle business now and not in five or ten years. Everyone on the commission will see a tax increase. We took things off the budget,” he said.

Commissioner John Brodie said raising taxes is hard, but it was necessary. “I sat down with each department head and drilled down to find ways to reduce spending,” he said.

Brodie said he was able to find an alternate funding source for off-road police vehicles and reduce or eliminate other expenses.

The commission will hold two budget hearings: September 12 at 6:00 p.m. and September 26 at 6:00 p.m. Both will be in the commission chambers.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.