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Letters to the Editor
RE: Utility Tax
Dear Editor:
In 1974, Statue 166.23 allowed the imposition of a utility tax on the purchase of electricity, water, fuel oils and metered and bottled gas. Deerfield had that tax until 1979, when the voters rescinded the tax by referendum. In 1986, the commission attempted to pass a modified utility tax which, once again, was overwhelmingly defeated by a 2 to 1 margin. The city attorney now says there is no requirement to go to the voters to re-impose a utility tax. The voters have spoken twice on this issue.
The argument is: it will equalize the burden on all users.Really? Take the water tax. The newly annexed areas do not have city water so they will not pay the tax. Most renters have water included in their rent costs, so they won’t pay. Most condos and townhouses have their water bills paid by their associations. With the number of properties bankrupt or in foreclosure, this is just what the associations need to add to their financial burden. Once again, the single family homeowners will bear the brunt of these new taxes.
Our ad valorem is high because we do not have a utility tax. Could that be why Publix located its 1,200,000 square foot distribution center in Deerfield? The same goes for the Sun Sentinel location here in 1989.
On Aug. 3, the commission voted to remove the exemption to the fire assessment fee for the non-profits in the city. It would cost some churches approximately $60,000. Now they are proposing a future water and electric tax. Where does it all end?
Jean Robb
Deerfield Beach
Dear Editor:
Well, here we go again. Instead of the city commission being more responsible with our money, they want to raise taxes. Case in point: beach property, worth by county assessments, in the mid $200,000s, they pay $500,000. How about firing a city manager [Mahaney] who was doing a good job? How much did that cost the city? A couple of hundred thousand or more? We will never know. Now, let’s not forget The Cove project they’re thinking about, which I think needs to be done. I live in The Cove, but let’s finish Hillsboro Boulevard first. I own a small business, very small, and I, for one, do not need any more expenses like a UTILITY TAX. Let’s get out and vote for some people who know how to run a business and maybe even turn a profit in these tough economic times.
Steven Fabrizio
Deerfield Beach
Cove parking lot
Dear Editor:
… I can tell you what I saw and heard that night [Aug. 24] at the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting [with Cove business owners].
Nearly everyone voiced some version of “You’re going to put me out of business. Don’t do this project now under any circumstance.” You could hear the genuine fear in people’s voices. Particularly unnerving was the plan to occupy larger areas (more available parking) via a brand new “4 Phase Plan.” What that said to beleaguered business owners was “Great news. Less parking for everyone.”
One of the speakers came armed with statistics from a 2005 University of Florida study about construction impact from similar projects in Jacksonville and Tallahassee. That report was grim. It found businesses lost between 35-90 percent of their business while their plaza was being worked on. And that was 2005! How much better was the economy then?
All the while, Keith & Associates representative Dodie Keith took the heat from desperate business owners. Meanwhile, the CRA Director twice repeated that “this meeting is to discuss when and how – NOT IF – this project goes further. The constant harping about a 9-month schedule instead of 15 months sounded a lot like: “Would you prefer to go out of business in 9 or 15 months?”
Meanwhile, there was NO real suggestion on how to assuage the issue of losing customers. Or even how to keep the hearty souls safe who try to make it to their favorite shop during construction. There was NO input from the representative from West Construction. What plan do they have to help the business owners and customers?
Finally, about half of the meeting involved discussion of the drainage problems in the alleyway to the south of The Cove. Question was raised as to why the City is going to spend $2M on drainage improvements to the main Cove parking lot when it doesn’t flood – and is spending $0 on the alley that floods mightily. Can we get that answer?
Mark Hoffman
Deerfield Beach
Editor’s note: After the Aug. 24 meeting, a possible solution was offered the following day. 16 out of 25 business owners turned in temporary construction easements by Aug. 25, compared to 6 out of 25 at the time of the meeting.
Help Save History
Dear Editor:
You have all undoubtedly read the news about city cutbacks and job lay-offs. Well, it also affects your local Deerfield Beach Historical Society. The city has cut out all of our funding (from $50,000 to ZERO). We understand cutbacks when times are tough. We are also cutting back on expenses from within.
Our focus remains true to our mission: to preserve and share our rich Deerfield history. We are fighting as hard as we can to garner outside support from local businesses, corporations, and other donor support, but it takes time to build such support. Here is how you can help: we propose to the city a 3-year transition period to allow the Society the time needed to build outside support.
We are not asking for a hand-out, but have come up with proposals and ideas of what we can do to make up the difference. We are asking for a 3-year transition from the $50,000 we received this year to a $25,000 (year 1) donation; reduced to $15,000 (year 2); and finally (year 3), a $10,000 donation.
If you care about history, like I do, please send an e-mail to your commissioner – no, to all of the commissioners, asking them to support our Historical Society. We cannot do this alone, your support is more important than ever before.
Carolyn Morris
Executive Director, Historical Society
Deerfield Beach
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