Boca Raton City Council Final Budget Hearing – September 25, 2025

The City Council held a final budget hearing on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to adopt millage rates and the FY 2025/26 budget, approve capital improvement program, and consider council-proposed amendments. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call (all five members present). Staff presented rebudgeting from FY 2024–25 and recommended amendments. The public had opportunity to comment. Council voted unanimously (5-0) on all three items after discussion and minor adjustments.

Consent Calendar

• None separately identified; the rebudgeting items (exhibits 1–3) were presented as staff recommendations and later included in the budget ordnances.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Perlman (address provided): Expressed concern that the budget includes costs related to the Government Campus Redevelopment project, which he argued should not be funded until voters approve in March 2026. He also alleged $400 million excess in utility and public works spending and requested transparency on all line items. He made formal public records requests.
• Don Huber (resident 30+ years): Urged council to reduce expenses, citing personal cost pressures. He praised national cost-cutting efforts and asked what the city has done to reduce costs. He later heard staff response about a $2 million operating budget decrease.

Discussion Items

• Rebudgeting of FY 2024-25 Appropriations (Exhibits 1-3):
  • Staff (Jim Zervis, CFO and Deputy City Mgr; Mike Middleman, Sr. Budget Analyst) presented four exhibits:
    • Exhibit 1: Amendments affecting fund balance (e.g., Tree Legacy Program +$135,000; retirement sustainability fund +$490,500; Spanish River Maintenance Facility reduction -$130,000 from Capital Improvement Fund and -$70,000 from Beach & Park District). Total: $425,500.
    • Exhibit 2: Operating rebudgets (no fund balance impact) totaling $4,742,300, including CDBG, SHIP, centennial activities, etc.
    • Exhibit 3: CIP rebudgets (capital projects pushed forward) totaling $48,679,200 across various funds (water/sewer $33.8M, IT $3.2M, etc.). These were staff-recommended.
    • Exhibit 4: Council-proposed amendents (not staff-recommended) for deliberation.
  • Council questions: Councilmember Wigder queried about $3.2 million SHIP carryover; staff explained timing of affordable housing assistance.
• Public Hearing on Millage and Budget: Mayor opened hearing; clerk read ordinances. Public comments (see above). Staff responded: Millerate is decreasing (8th year), city has lowest full-service tax rate in Florida. Chief Financial Officer Zervis noted $9.5 million in operating cuts achieved to reduce tax burden; net operating expenses decreased $2 million. No funds budgeted for Government Campus project because no final development agreement exists. Mr. Brown (City Manager) addressed tree survey at Sugar Sand Park as informational, not removal.
• Council Amendments (Exhibit 4):
  • Deputy Mayor Nachlas proposed $200,000 for two attendants at Silver Palm boat ramp to address illegal charter activity. Discussion ensued; staff recommended first gathering data and enforcing existing code. Council agreed to study (no amendment adopted now).
  • Councilmember Wigder proposed several items:
    1. Public safety: police department consultant on workplace culture/recruiting – staff said funding exists in budget.
    2. Fire truck specialist technician salary gaps – staff said upcoming compensation study will address, no need for budget amendment now.
    3. AI initiatives and virtual inspections – staff reported already testing AI in public works and doing some virtual inspections; no additional funding needed; no reduction of building inspectors or code compliance officers accepted.
    4. Parks master plan outreach – funding already available.
    5. Comprehensive plan research consultant – staff noted ongoing work but larger policy discussion for strategic planning.
    6. New positions: special events permit (approved) and SHIP housing planner (succession planning). Council generally supportive.
    7. Economic development: fee relief for local businesses – staff said existing economic development funds could be used. After debate, no position reductions were adopted; staff will continue operational improvements.
• Nonprofit Funding: Mayor noted process review needed. By consensus, council agreed to allocate $1,000 each to eight organizations (including Bobcat Robotics, Garden Club, Greening Corp, Edwith Tech, Generation Hope, National Society for Arts & Letters, Showering Love, Warrior Golf Academy) and reduce overall nonprofit funding by $9,000 from prior year.

Key Outomes

• Ordinance 5751 (final millage rates): Adopted 5-0. Total millage rate: 3.6649 mills (3.6476 operational + 0.0173 debt service). Percentage over rolled-back rate: 4.42%.
• Ordinance 5752 (final budget appropriations for FY 2025-2026): Adopted 5-0 with adjustments: included exhibits 1-3 (rebudgeting) and nonprofit allocations as discussed (net -$9,000). No further amendments.
• Resoution 142-2025 (Capital Improvements Program FY 2025/26-2030/31): Adopted 5-0, incorporating CIP rebudgets from exhibit 3.
• Directives: Staff to study Silver Palm boat ramp issues and report back; continue with compensation study; provide detail on SHIP carryover; enforce existing code against commercial charters.
• Next Steps: Budget becomes effective October 1, 2025. Mayor thanked staff and outgoing City Manager George Brown for nearly 50 years of service; presented key to the city. Meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.