Boynton Beach officials are seeking to hold the line on taxes, discussing a lower property tax rate in 2027 that should hold bills steady and, with property values having risen in the past year, deliver roughly the same tax revenue as collected in 2026.
The city's chief financial officer, Alan Lawson, asked city commissioners during a July 14 meeting to consider cutting the city's property tax rate to $7.43 per $1,000 of property value, from the current $7.75. That would keep property tax bills flat or raise them minimally, rather than reduce them, due to properties' rising values. No municipal workers would be hired or fired under the plan, Lawson said.
Elected city officials must hold two votes on property tax rates. The preliminary vote on June
30 capped the rate at $7.75. But that doesn't prevent the city from seeking an even lower rate as discussed in the July 14 meeting.
City commissioners at that meeting told city staff to go forward with crafting a budget proposal built on the lower rate, while voting unanimously to tentatively raise the fee that pays for firefighting and paramedics. Final budget hearings are scheduled for Sept. 8 and Sept. 16.
The average taxable value of a single-family home in the city is about $228,000, calculations based on preliminary Palm Beach County Property Appraiser figures show, putting the tax at just under $1,700 at the proposed rate.
Lawson also proposed raising the city's fire assessment fee by $25, reaching $170 per dwelling for the fiscal year spanning Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The city government would lose $2.7 million in property tax revenue but collect $1.5 million more in fire fees under Lawson's pitch.
The budget proposal would reduce spending by $1.1 million from the city's general fund, which covers most daily operations including police, firefighting and paramedics. The proposal calls for general fund spending of $139.2 million.
City Manager Dan Dugger froze hiring in April 17 for all positions except those in public safety before extending it to those positions June 3, City Attorney Shawna Lamb has said. The budget proposal extends the hiring freeze to help balance the budget.
These budget plans will be thrown into a vortex of uncertainty if voters across Florida in November approve major property tax cuts, which Boynton Beach and local governments statewide rely on for much of their daily operations.
Dugger warned on June 2 of "mass layoffs" if the property tax cut succeeds on the November ballot. That warning came before he emailed the city's 991-person municipal workforce to tell them his administration would work to protect their jobs.
City officials have discussed an alternative source for money should voters end property tax funding.
Dugger on May 19 proposed selling the city's fire and water departments to Palm Beach County's government for at least $470 million. Proceeds would be invested in a fund yielding at least 6% interest. Dugger has said he and County Administrator Joe Abruzzo are working out the details. Abruzzo has not publicly disclosed those conversations.
The proposed tax cut referendum faces lawsuits to block it from the ballot.
Democratic former U.S. Rep. Alan Lawson of Tallahassee and Republican former state Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg sued Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Attorney General James Uthmeier in July in Leon County Circuit Court, claiming the ballot language is written to persuade voters rather than inform them and fails to explain the amendment's potential impact on local governments and public services.
Email news tips and article ideas to Chris Persaud at cpersaud@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton seeks to keep property tax same, but they could go even lower
