Firefighters protest Boca annexation
By John Murawski, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 4, 2003
BOCA RATON -- Palm Beach County firefighters Wednesday demonstrated in the streets against the city's effort to annex 494 acres of the county's prime real estate around the Town Center shopping area.
The sign-waving against the annexation of 3,255 residents and 422 businesses will continue daily until a special vote on the issue Tuesday, said union representative Fred Angelo of the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County.
If Boca Raton residents support annexation Tuesday, county residents in the annexation areas will vote in a Nov. 4 referendum.
But if city residents vote against, as the firefighters union hopes, then the proposal dies.
About 55 county firefighters turned out for a city-sponsored presentation Wednesday at which Boca Raton officials said that annexation would improve police and fire services and reduce property taxes in the annexation areas of Santa Barbara, Town Center mall, Via Verde, Coach Homes, Boca Center and Fairfield.
The city would come out ahead $1.9 million a year, after all expenses.
Boca Raton Mayor Steven Abrams said those savings could be used to pay for the extra cost of bypassing Red Reef Park in an upcoming beach reconstruction project.
Residents want the park out of the project to save near-shore reefs from being buried under 9 feet of sand.
Reducing the size of the project will reduce corresponding state support.
If annexation passes, the city would add five firefighters and one fire inspector, as well as 12 police officers, three investigators and 19 police cruisers.
The owner of a home valued at $150,000 in the unincorporated would save $183 a year in property taxes and fees by joining the city, Boca Raton officials say. The owner of a $500,000 home would save $203 a year.
County firefighters oppose all annexation because it reduces the county's property tax base.
"It just raises the fire tax to the other residents," Angelo said.
At Wednesday's meeting, Abrams read questions submitted by audience members.
"Is this annexation an old-fashioned cash grab at a high-revenue area?" asked one.
Abrams replied: "The unemotional answer is that it is beneficial to both parties."
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By John Murawski, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 4, 2003
BOCA RATON -- Palm Beach County firefighters Wednesday demonstrated in the streets against the city's effort to annex 494 acres of the county's prime real estate around the Town Center shopping area.
The sign-waving against the annexation of 3,255 residents and 422 businesses will continue daily until a special vote on the issue Tuesday, said union representative Fred Angelo of the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County.
If Boca Raton residents support annexation Tuesday, county residents in the annexation areas will vote in a Nov. 4 referendum.
But if city residents vote against, as the firefighters union hopes, then the proposal dies.
About 55 county firefighters turned out for a city-sponsored presentation Wednesday at which Boca Raton officials said that annexation would improve police and fire services and reduce property taxes in the annexation areas of Santa Barbara, Town Center mall, Via Verde, Coach Homes, Boca Center and Fairfield.
The city would come out ahead $1.9 million a year, after all expenses.
Boca Raton Mayor Steven Abrams said those savings could be used to pay for the extra cost of bypassing Red Reef Park in an upcoming beach reconstruction project.
Residents want the park out of the project to save near-shore reefs from being buried under 9 feet of sand.
Reducing the size of the project will reduce corresponding state support.
If annexation passes, the city would add five firefighters and one fire inspector, as well as 12 police officers, three investigators and 19 police cruisers.
The owner of a home valued at $150,000 in the unincorporated would save $183 a year in property taxes and fees by joining the city, Boca Raton officials say. The owner of a $500,000 home would save $203 a year.
County firefighters oppose all annexation because it reduces the county's property tax base.
"It just raises the fire tax to the other residents," Angelo said.
At Wednesday's meeting, Abrams read questions submitted by audience members.
"Is this annexation an old-fashioned cash grab at a high-revenue area?" asked one.
Abrams replied: "The unemotional answer is that it is beneficial to both parties."
[email protected]
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