For what it is worth, here are my two cents…

During the Mayor’s presentation, she presented a chart that reflected Plantation as being in approximately the bottom 1/3 of the cities in Broward when ranked by their millage rates. It does not appear to be a true “apples-to-apples” comparison, especially since Plantation has a VOLUNTEER Fire Department. This is touted throughout the year and always applauded. The part that seems to be overlooked, and that skews the picture, is that if we had a paid fire department like many of our neighbors, our millage rate would increase at least by 2 mills, which would quickly catapult Plantation up the chart. Add in the various fees and rates from other parts of the city (i.e. Plantation Acres pays an additional tax per acre that others throughout the city do not) we would most probably land in, or very near, the 7 mill range. This would secure Plantation well within the highest taxed bracket in Broward County. It is also interesting to note that Councilman Levy, who is the City Manager for Pembroke Park, has Broward County’s HIGHEST millage rate, in the city that he is in charge of. He has been known to brag that he has not raised his city’s taxes in years, but he always seems to forget to mention that his city’s taxes are at the top of the chart. I guess being at the head of this class, and topping this chart, is no bragging point…

Additionally, when the gentleman spoke to the Mayor about the increases since 2000-2001, he is dead on the money. We have continuously heard that costs have risen. We all know this because we too are experiencing it. When you compare Plantation’s increases with the national inflation rate, it is amazing that Plantation’s costs have gone up at a rate that is nearly four (4) times the national rate. While I am no economist, simple mathematics lead you to see that this is unreasonable and way out of line. While the Mayor and some council members like to point out that gasoline, etc. costs have risen; they must be hoping that we are not aware that these increases are already accounted for in the national rate.

Which leads me to my final point: During Wednesday’s meeting there was a considerable amount of talk regarding pensions and benefits. This seems eerily similar to the council meetings from the late 90’s when an attempt was made to review the controversial elected officials’ pension plan from the 80’s. While I was not personally present at these discussions, I have educated myself through several public records requests. If you are interested in reading the detailed minutes from the meeting in which the Mayor and then Councilwoman Armstrong (our current Mayor) actually got up and left the meeting, discussion and the vote, please click the link below. I have attached the minutes in their entirety. The pensions and benefits were a concern then and they still are today.

www.plantationjournal.com/articles/Council%20Discussion%20Pension%20Plan%2011-5-1997.pdf