Finally “Not Today!” Palmetto Bay’s tax bleed on hold - after raising and even creating new taxes in 2019 - 3 out of 5 Palmetto Bay Council members say "enough is enough" (for now).

Finally, a temporary respite from the ongoing increases in taxes and fees that have been passed under this current Mayor and Village Council since January of 2019. It started with raising park user fees (yet the recent council agendas are heavy with resolutions to wave these fees for community groups - a typical buy the vote tactic where government officials give away parks to groups to curry favor, while leaving the costs to the taxpayers). The latest issue was an increase in the Stormwater fee. By the way, did you receive a notice in the mail advising you that there was an attempt to raise the Stormwater fees you pay? (You did not.)

An example of a "stealth" increase - above -nowhere does it say increase the tax by 20%,but it does in fact raise that tax.

My issue? That this Mayor and Council are running the government like a student council or yearbook club where the money is used to benefit the popular people instead of collecting taxes only to the amount needed to provide services based upon a plan to benefit all (more on that in a later blog).

NOTE: Of the 5 members of the Village Council, only Council Member David Singer has consistently voted against these new and increased taxes/fees in 2019!

An important read - PRIOR RELATED POST of April 25, 2019, Palmetto Bay - Transparency - on sale to those who can afford it

What taxes/fees?

• I mentioned the increase in Park user fees (for the 'regular people' - bring your community group and get a freebee passed by the council for your event - at taxpayer expense)
• Creation of a new tax - a garbage franchise fee collected from waste haulers - not a fee paid by the service provider, no, to the contrary, it is an additional cost that will be passed on to those who use the services in Palmetto Bay. (David Singer voted no)
• The FPL franchise fee was increased and passed for another 30 years - without allowing for a vote of the residents (CLICK HERE to view numerous prior blog posts on all the details). [David Singer and the vice mayor voted no (but passed on a 3-2 vote)]
• There was an overall tax increase in the collection of tax revenue for all paying property taxes in Palmetto Bay. (David Singer voted no)
• And lastly- another quiet attempt to take yet another $150,000.00 out of the pockets of Palmetto Bay families through raising the stormwater fee - made worse by the staff report not making a compelling need for the increase nor did the Mayor or any council member even try to bring this to the attention of the affected residents. (David Singer, Patrick Fiore and the Vice Mayor voted no, killing it on a 2-3 vote)

Palmetto Bay has outstanding reserves, budget awards and a solid public services program through the hard work of the prior administrations, particularly the initial village council.

Palmetto Bay deserves elected leaders who will guard our money, keep spending in check, protect our residents from shouldering political giveaways of park access at their taxpayer expense and to refrain from raising taxes unless absolutely necessary.

Finally common sense temporarily returned when three out of the five told the mayor "not today!" on December 2, 2019, in regard to taking $150,000.00 more from Palmetto Bay taxpayers.  Thank you Council Members David Singer and Patrick Fiore joined by the Vice Mayor in voting NO, for stopping the tax bleed - for now.

Voting for tax sanity, voting no on the 20% increase in the Stormwater Fees:

• Vice Mayor John Dubois
• Patrick Fiore, District 1
• David Singer, District 2

voting to INCREASE tax burden needlessly:

• Mayor Karyn Cunningham
• Marsha Matson, District 3

Next step is to stop the giveaways of community assets solely to create a political patronage system here in Palmetto Bay.  There needs to be a fair and equitable process for fees, not merely where you are a "Friend Of" (FO) the Mayor or other elected official.