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Federal budget isn't a beach for Delray

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — It wasn’t exactly the kind of news a cash-strapped city needs to hear at budget time. Especially one with the word ‘beach’ as part of its name.

There’s no money in the federal budget to cover the cost of “renourishing” the Delray’s municipal beach, and if the city wants it done this year, it’s got to some how squeeze $600,000 out of the budget that already has a $2.4 million hole in it. Not just for this year, but possibly for the next 10.

“As I see it, that’s an impossibility,” Mayor Woodie McDuffie said. “I don’t think there’s anyone up here that doesn’t want to do it.”

Renourishing the beach essentially means replacing the sand that washes away over time. It keeps the beach attractive — economically vital to the city’s tourism and leisure related businesses. But maintaining the beach also prevents property adjacent to it, including A1A, from being washed away in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.

Planning and Zoning Director Paul Dorling told commissioners Tuesday that the city has a bid to do the work for $9.21 million, which he called “attractive.” It also has the permits in place necessary for the project.

Normally, the federal government would pick up nearly 57 percent of the cost, with the state and county covering the remainder. In the interim, the city would take out a short-term loan that would be repaid when Uncle Sam’s check arrives in the mail.

The state and county money is available, but for a variety of reasons, including the elimination of so-called congressional earmarks, the federal isn’t there this year.

The only alternative for the city is to borrow the money, which with interest would cost $600,000 a year for 10 years. Delray commissioners already are trying to fill a $2.4 million gap in the upcoming budget year.

Dorling said the city has until early September to decide; otherwise, they lose the bid. Commissioners agreed to wait until their Sept. 4 meeting before making a decision, hoping to find sufficient budget cuts before then.

If commissioners decide against the project, they’re essentially betting that there won’t be a major storm in the next year.

Commissioner Adam Frankel said he would support the project if his colleagues can come up with the cuts. Otherwise …

“I can’t support going forward spending this kind of money,” Frankel said. “You can’t keep spending money if you don’t have it.”