Delray Beach’s political budget takes effect today. Because it’s political, however, the budget might not be realistic.
Mayor Tom Carney, who took office in March, requested a property tax rate lower than what City Manager Terrence Moore first proposed. Joined by Commissioners Juli Casale and Thomas Markert, who also were elected in March, Carney then demanded a rate lower than Moore’s second proposal.
Either of the first two proposals would have meant that Delray Beach had cut the rate for the 12th straight year. Most property owners, however, would have paid more because of higher values. Carney said he had made a campaign promise to give taxpayers—especially commercial property owners—a “year off.” Carney wanted to keep tax bills the same.
Key department heads, notably the police chief and interim fire chief, opposed that proposal. After Carney, Casale and Markert stuck to their numbers, Moore made them work—at least for now. The operating budget will be about $186 million, down from the earlier $191 million.
That budget, though, is based on what may be overly optimistic forecasts for sources of new revenue. Commissioners offered them to avoid cutting police and fire budgets. But the ideas—such as charging non-residents more for using the city’s boat launch—are untested.
In addition, the budget does not factor in new contracts for police officers and unionized non-public safety employees. Those contracts expired Monday. The new, three-year agreements will cost more and could bust the budget once they’re approved, unless the agreements defer the increases. The police talks appear headed for impasse.
Indeed, Carney acknowledged that this tax relief would be a one-off. He suggested that new costs from the firefighters’ contract, which the previous commission approved last year, will be higher in coming years. But that won’t become clear until Moore and new Fire Chief Ronald Martin discuss how to implement the contract. Martin starts next week.
As Carney, Casale and Markert see it, they got a realistic budget and sent a political message. Last month, Carney touted the budget in an email, saying, “We Froze the darn Taxes!”
If the budget proves to be unrealistic, though, there are only two responses: use more money from the reserve fund or further cut expenses. In his Sept. 20 newsletter, Moore pledged ongoing efforts to “achieve efficiencies in operations … without compromising existing service levels.”
Budget amendments arise regularly in Delray Beach and Boca Raton, Unexpected expenses come up. Revenue comes in higher or lower than expected.
In most cases, such amendments are not controversial. In Delray Beach, they could be. That’s what happens when a budget becomes a political message.
Evaluation for Delray City Manager
On the agenda for tonight’s city commission meeting is Moore’s evaluation. Opinions of the city’s CEO also reflect the commission’s politics.
Commissioners Rob Long and Angela Burns gave Moore the strongest marks. Long gave him the top ranking of “outstanding” in all 16 categories. Burns gave him an “exceeds expectations” in 12 categories, a pair of “meets expectation”—the middle ranking—and two “outstanding grades,” for Access and Job Knowledge. Burns praised his “dedication and experience” and predicted that the city “will thrive” under Moore.
Markert was less effusive. He gave Moore a “meets expectation” in 11 categories and an “improvement needed”—the second-lowest score—for Budgeting and Financial Reporting.
Such an evaluation is not surprising. Markert and Carney have pushed Moore to begin budget discussions earlier than June, when the commission traditionally has held its first workshop. Moore has agreed. Markert echoed Moore’s language in calling for more “budget efficiencies.”
Notably, though, Markert also gave Moore an “exceeds expectations” for Access and Ethical Standards. He wants Moore to “continue to be accessable (sic) at all times.”
Casale was the most critical. She gave Moore a “needs improvement” in 10 categories, a “meets expectations” in four categories and an “exceeds expectations” for Access and Responsiveness.
Casale is aligned politically most closely with former Mayor Shelly Petrolia. A year ago, Petrolia was the most critical of Moore, though Petrolia had voted to hire him in 2021. Casale also supported the hiring. Casale ran this year as part of a slate with Carney and Markert. Petrolia supported all three.
Casale attached eight pages of supposed issues she has with Moore. Most of them echo the sort of verbal bashings she regularly gave Chief Financial Officer Hugh Dunkley. He’s leaving the city, likely because of those lengthy interrogations that begin with the premise that the staff is guilty of something yet turn up no evidence of mismanagement.
Long and Burns belong to the city’s competing political faction. Pointedly, Long praises Moore for his “ability clean up (sic) the messes that this commission creates.”
Carney’s evaluation was not available by deadline for this post. I’ll have more after the meeting.
Delray to consider DDA funds for managing Old School Square
For all that supposed criticism over finances, Moore already filled what could have been an $800,000 budget gap.
Also on the agenda for tonight’s meeting is approval of an update to the agreement under which the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) manages parts of Old School Square. The city contracted with the DDA after the commission ended the lease with Old School Square’s founding group.
Last year, the city paid the DDA roughly $1 million. The agency wanted double that for the current year. Moore proposed $800,000. The DDA agreed.
How was that lower number acceptable? Moore said the DDA could take advantage of language in the agreement that gives the agency 90 percent of new revenue.
Another delay in second “Delray Defacer” case
There has been yet another delay in the case of the second man accused of defacing Delray Beach’s LGBTQ Pride streetscape.
At a hearing Monday, attorneys from both sides agreed to the fifth continuance. Dylan Brewer faces one felony and one misdemeanor charge for allegedly burning his truck tires over the Pineapple Grove intersection in February. The next court date is Nov. 26. Brewer’s truck had a Donald Trump flag. The man who previously defaced the intersection was part of a parade for Trump’s birthday. Brewer has pleaded not guilty.
Scott Sale is one of Brewer’s attorneys. He told me Monday that delays are over “procedural” matters. He and prosecutors need to “finish exchanging documents.” Are there plea negotiations? “Nothing I can comment on.”
Delray seeking federal funds for holiday task force
Did you know that the Delray Beach Police Department has something called a Holiday Robbery Task Force?
It sounds like a contradiction in terms. In fact, it’s the department’s annual effort to prevent spikes in robberies between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Homes are stocked with gifts, and homeowners tend to be away more often.
On the agenda for tonight’s city commission meeting is an application for a $31,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. According to the staff memo, the grant would go toward police overtime for the task force. Moore said the department “augments its presence” during the holidays.
The money comes from the federal government. The program is named for a New York City police officer who was murdered in 1988. Edward Byrne was protecting a witness who had agreed to testify against drug dealers. He was only 22.
