HomeMy Public PortalAboutLetter to Property OwnersCOMMISSIONERS
WILLIAM F. KOCH, JR. Mayor
JOAN K. ORTHWEIN, Vice Mayor
FRED B. DEVITT III
CHRIS 0. WHEELER
MURIEL J. ANDERSON
Dear Property Owner:
TOWN OF GULF STREAM
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
Telephone
(561) 276-5116
Four
(561) 737-0168
Town Manager
WILLIAM H. THRASHER
Town Clark
There is growing agreement that the property tax system is sorely in need of reform. Neighbors
in nearly identical homes pay drastically different amounts in taxes, and that inequity must be
fixed.
Property owners should not be shocked by large unanticipated tax increases. Likewise,
municipalities need a consistent stream of revenue to plan for existing services and future
growth.
As state lawmakers grapple with potential reforms, it's important we protect vital services such
as police, fire, and road maintenance, as well as the ability of individual communities like Gulf
Stream to decide what's important to us.
Only 13 percent of property taxes go to cities. Current proposals from the governor and the
House would drastically reduce that funding, creating the need for cities to reduce the essential
services they provide.
Additionally, budget caps proposal are equivalent to state government setting priorities for local
communities. In a state with immensely diverse cities, the needs of Gulf Stream differ from
Miami or rural Madison. We must preserve the ability of local communities to set their own
priorities. One size does not fit all.
I hope city residents in Gulf Stream and all other cities throughout Florida will tell their state
lawmakers that property tax relief doesn't have to mean a one-two punch to cities and the
essential services their residents need.
Most importantly, the solution must also preserve the ability of local governments to be self-
governing. Local governments are the closest governments to the people. Citizens have
access to our meetings and can more easily make their voices heard here than in
Tallahassee. The property tax structure must protect this quality and allow local residents to
decide what services and programs deserve their funding.
-
Mayor William F. Koch, Jr. v
Gulf Stream
100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM, FLORIDA 33483