HomeMy Public PortalAboutOctober 1995CURRENTS
The Official Newsletter of the Town of Gulf Stream
TAXES FROZEN - AGAIN!
The Town Commission has adopted a budget for fiscal
year 1996 that once again, holds the line on property
taxes. Although total expenditures will increase
slightly, the need to increase taxes was offset by a
greater than expected surplus from the 1995 fiscal
year, a slight increase in revenues received from the
state and a lot of hard work by the Commission and
Town staff. Total budgeted expenditures for fiscal
year 1996, which began on October 1, 1995, are $1.28
million.
A preliminary budget presented to the Commission in
July proposed a slight tax increase. However, the
Commission expressed a strong desire to not increase
taxes, and accordingly, worked diligently over the
summer with the staff in scrutinizing expenses and
seeking out revenue from sources other than property
taxes.
Due to the mailing schedule imposed by the County,
the preliminary tax bills mailed in August showed the
proposed increase. However, the final lax bills, due to
be mailed by the County next month, will reflect the
adopted, no -tax -increase budget.
The CIr-I, total cnillage assessed by the Town to.-
operations
aroperations and debt is 3.98 for fiscal year 1996, down
1.2 percent from last year. On average, though,
properties in Gulf Stream rose in value by an
equivalent percentage. Thus, the total amount of taxes
paid to the Town will be about the same for most
properly owners.
October 1495
These tax rates are for the Town only and do not
include other taxing authorities, such as Palm Beach
County, the County Health Care District, the School
Board, the South Florida Water Management District
and others. The final 1996 tax rates for these agencies
were not available at the time this newsletter went to
press. Historically, however, taxes paid to the Town
have accounted for less than 20 percent of the total
property taxes paid by property owners in Gulf
Stream, even though the Town provides the vast
majority of services.
WATER USE DOWN DRAMATICALLY
Althoug final water use figures for August and
September were not in at press time, the Town was
well on its way to the lowest water use year since
1989, the last year for which detailed records are
available. Comparisons to 1989 also are important
because that was a year of record drought and thought
to be the highest water use year in the Town's history.
Water use years are the same as fiscal years, which run
from October 1 to September 30. At the end of July,
total water use in Gulf Stream was down 9 percent
from last year and down 25 percent from 1989.
As of July, water use by non-residential customers
was down 5 percent from last year and down more
than 35 percent since 1989. Likewise, usage by
single-family homes was down 12 percent from last
year and down 26 percent from 1989. These two
decreases were off set by a 7 percent increase in
multifamily use over last year; however, multifamily
use has decreased 11 percent since 1989.
The water use reductions achieved by non-residential
customers are impressive and despite the recent
increases by multifamily customers, they, loo, have
shown some restraint. However, conservation efforts
by single-family consumers have the most significant
impact on total water use because they account for
nearly 80 percent of the total water used in the Town.
Single-family users have responded well to the Town's
new water rate system, which established target usage
levels for each home based on the size of the lot.
Since the inception of this system last fall, many
homeowners were able to cul their irrigation by 50
percent or more and improve the vitality and
appearance of their landscaping in the process. Of
course, Mother Nature did her part, too, by providing
us with near -record rainfalls throughout the year.
As always, the Commission and Town staff are happy
to assist you with any problems or questions you may
have concerning water use. Feel free to give us a call
at 276-5116 if we can be of any help.
October 1995 CURRENTS Page 2
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
Gulf Stream is, without a doubt, the most beautiful
community in Florida. The meticulous attention given
to property maintenance within our Town continues
set the standard for all other communities to follow.
Here a few reminders to help keep it that way.
■Back door garbage and recycling pick-up. Our
contract with BFI/County Sanitation reuuires that
their personnel go to your back door to pick up your
containers and that they return all containers to the
same location. It this is not happening, please call
BFI/County Sanitation at 278-1717 to advise them of
the problem. If the problem persists, please call the
Town Hall at 276-5116. Under no circumstances
should you place your containers at the street.
Properties on the beach are not exempted from this
practice. If you have a long driveway and a gate, you
may place your containers behind your wall or hedge.
Never place containers along side the road in open
view. There are no exceptions.
■Trash piles. BFI/County Sanitation provides
vegetative trash pick-up every Thursday and directly
bills the property owner for the service based on the
volume of material. You may use BFI or chose to have
the landscape company that cuts the material take the
vegetative trash away. Use of an independent trash
hauler is prohibited.
Under Town ordinances, all trash piles must be picked
up within 48 hours. Any piles left longer than this
will automatically be picked up by BFI/County
Sanitation under a standing order from the Town, and
the property owner will be billed.
■Draining pools. Due to the exceptionally high
amount of rainfall in the last several months, some
property owners have had to drain excess water from
their pools. If this need arises, you must drain the
NEW RULES FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES
In response to the growing number of construction
sites and the recent problems some of them have
created, the Town Commission has adopted a
Construction Site Management Handbook. The
Handbook is a comprehensive set of rules and
regulations applicable to all construction projects,
which includes the noise and seasonal restrictions on
construe.ion adopted within the last few years.
The Handbook uses a common-sense approach based
on a recognition and respect of the rights and needs of
existing homeowners and builders. Through mutual
respect and cooperation, the Commission believes Gulf
Stream can continue to grow without disrupting the
low-key atmosphere that is the Town's trademark.
The rules and regulations will be enforced jointly by
the Police Department and the Town Manager and
should put an end to a number of problems --
including damaged lawns, mud on the street, litter and
unsightly job sites. If you experience any problems
related to construction sites, please contact the Town
Hall immediately at 276-5116.
water into your own yard. Drainage into neighboring
properties, the street or storm sewers is prohibited.
■Skateboards and rollerbludes. The courtyard and
fountain area in front of the Town Hall has become
popular with skateboarders and rollerbladers who like
to jump the low wall that surrounds the area. Not
only is this dangerous, it has caused considerable
damage to the concrete on the wall and the floor of the
courtyard. Please advise all skateboarders or
rollerbladers in your home to refrain from using the
Town Hall grounds for these activities.
■Satellite dishes. The Town Hall has received a
number of calls lately regarding satellite dishes.
Although the size of these dishes has been reduced
drastically in the last few years, the same mounting
and screening requirements apply as those that apply
to the larger dishes. Anyone interested in installing a
satellite dish should contact the Town Hall for a list of
all requirements.
■Registered contractors and service companies. When
hiring a contractor or service company for your
property, make sure they are registered with the Town
before they begin work. The registration program
covers everyone who actually performs work on your
properly -- from carpenters and carpet cleaners to
plumbers and pool cleaners.
To register, companies are charged a nominal fee and
must present appropriate certifications in their area of
expertise (where applicable) as well as proof o:
liability and workers compensation insurance.
The Town enacted this program for your protection.
If a company tells you that they won't register with
the Town, they probably are unlicensed or uninsured
to perform the work. While using such contractors
may sometimes appear to be cheaper, it could
ultimately cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of
dollars more if there should be an accident or some
other problem with the job. Further, the Town will
remove all unregistered contractors from job sites,
regardless of the stale of completion, and will not
permit work to resume until the contractor has
registered or is replaced by one who has.
For more information on the registration program,
contact the Town Hall at 276-5116.
This news!etter is rt,hliched by the Tnwn of Gulf
Stream. Questions or comments should be directed
to the Town Hall at too Sea Road, Gulf Stream,
Florida 33483, or phone (407) 276-5116.
William F. Koch, Jr., Mayor
Alan 1. Armour, Vice Mayor
James E. Cross, Commissioner
Joan K. Orthwein, Commissioner
A. Curtis True, M.D., Commissioner
STAFF
E. Scott Harrington, Town Manager
Robert F. Schultz, Police Chief
Rita Taylor, Town Clerk