08-29-58SpMtg 145
AUGUST 29TH, 1958.
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Delray Beach,
Florida, was held in the. Council Chambers at 7:30 P.M.,with Mayor J.
L~Roy Croft in the Chair, City Nanager W. E. Lawson Jr., and Commis-
sioners Col. Dugal G. Campbell, Fred B. McNeece, George Talbot Jr.,
and George V. Warren being present.
Mayor Croft called to order the meeting which had been provided
for a ~Public Hearing" to be held on the Budget, prior to its final
adoption, in compliance with Section 72 of the City Charter.
The Mayor highly commended the City Nanagerrfor the reasonable and
well compiled Budget for the coming fiscal year, and added, however,
that, in his opinion and in the opinion of the majority of the Council,
the recently discussed lowering of the proposed millage should not be-
come a reality and that the present millage should be continued for
the best interest of the city with possible adjustments in the proposed
budget permitting more availble funds for Street and Public Works im-
provements, further stating that he had spokenwith many tax-payers
who were in accord with such a tax rate in view of the city's need.
Mr. John Thayer, secretary of, and speaking in behalf of the many
Beach Taxpayers, most of whom he felt were away at this time, felt that
possibly Delray Beach should consider lowering the tax rate for the
coming fiscal year due to the uncertainty of the County's tax structure
and ultimate tax rate due to its reassessment of the entire County
Commissioner Campbell stated that this action and recommendation
of the Mayor came as a complete surprise inasmuch as during recent _
studies of the proposed Budget by the Council Members, an understand
lng had been reachedwhereby a reduction in millage should be made in
order to effect some relief to the taxpayers which information had
been passed on the public through news publications and that he felt
the lack of attendance at this meeting was due to such information
having been $iven the public.
The Commissioner further cited the fact that a surplus exists and
might well afford the necessary added funds for a much greater public
improvement program than contained in the proposed ~udget, and that he
definitely would favor appropriating an additional $70,000. from the
existing surplus to augment the like amount set forth in the proposed
budget for such public improvements.
Commissioner Campbell also reminded the Council of the existing
proceeds from the sale of the Golf Course which could well be tapped
for such public improvements.
Director of Public Works l~ark Fleming informed the Council that
~. chart of needed street repairs within the City covered approximately
~:2 miles of right-of-way and estimated the $70,000. set forth in the
proposed budget should accomplish about 9 miles of street rehabilita-
tion.
CommissionerWarren stated that he would not have agreed upon
rain adjustments of the Budget if he had not been under the impression
that a reduction in millage, from the present tax rate, had been agreed
upon, and further felt that revenues from the normal increase in real
property in the city together with the increase resulting from
appraisal would provide sufficient funds to accOmplish that desired
for the coming fiscal year with due respect to the City~.~nager's well
defined and respected five year program.
Commissioner Campbell again reminded the Council that he felt many
people would have attended this meeting if the news had not been fur-
nished the press that a tentative agreement had been reached providing
for a tax cut and moved that this meeting be adjourned. Motion second-
ed by Commissioner Talbot and unanimously passed.
APPROVED:
(/~/~ ~)~ R.O. WORTHING
.... CitY C'l~k ......
AUGUST 29th, ~958.