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Harden recommends revival of Delray's fire fee proposal

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Delray’s proposed fire service fee, believed to be killed two weeks ago in the face of seemingly overwhelming opposition, might yet have a heartbeat.

City Manager David Harden by memo is recommending that Delray Beach city commissioners enact the fee in order to fill a $3.2 million hole in the current municipal budget. Commissioners are set to hold a “workshop” meeting on the budget Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Harden also has prepared two other alternative plans to balance the budget, one that includes cuts to the police and fire departments, and one that leaves public safety intact.

Commissioners will discuss their options but cannot vote on any of them during Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioners voted 3-1 against the fee on Jan. 17 after a public hearing that lasted nearly two hours. During that time, a steady stream of residents and business owners who had packed commission chambers spoke out against the fee. Only one spoke in its favor.

Harden, however, said he believes the turnout was unrepresentative, and that “scare tactics” were used to stir opposition to the fire service fee. “It is the opinion of staff that those who spoke at the hearing do not represent the majority view of our community, but rather a minority of our citizens who adamantly oppose the assessment,” Harden wrote.

As proposed, the fire service fee would have been “tiered” based on square footage, from a minimum of $52 to a maximum of $263 for homes. Commercial properties would be similarly tiered. Harden said commissioners could adopt the same system or switch to a flat fee, where everyone pays the same.

Commissioner Jay Alperin voted in favor the fee; commissioners Tom Carney, Angeleta Gray and Adam Frankel voted against, although for varying reasons. Mayor Woodie McDuffie was sick and did not participate in the Jan. 17 meeting.

Delray Beach will conduct a municipal election six weeks from Tuesday’s meeting.

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