The man in charge of Boynton Beach’s government spoke widely different messages to different audiences 40 minutes apart about what will happen to the jobs of city workers if voters statewide approve a significant cut to local property taxes this fall.
City Manager Dan Dugger on June 2 told elected leaders “there will be mass layoffs” from the city’s 991-person workforce if the state ballot question wins approval in November.
If voters across Florida in November approve tax decimation, “There’s substantial amounts of cuts that I’m going to have to be recommending.” said Dugger, who oversaw other cuts to city jobs this year.
Less than an hour later, he sent a mass email to municipal workers trying to reassure them.
“Hearing about budget reductions can cause immediate worry about your job security,” Dugger wrote. “My administration is completely committed to doing everything in our power to make sure you keep you employed.”
Property tax ballot question could cost Boynton millions if passed
Dugger in February laid off top-level civil servants, including the city clerk and his own chief of staff, claiming the city needed to close a $4.9 million budget deficit. Other layoffs and dismissals included the city’s 911 emergency service communications manager and the information technology director.
More than 50 city employees this year have been laid off, fired, had their jobs cut or separated for other reasons, city data shows.
Dugger did not reply to a Palm Beach Post request for comment.
The ballot question, which voters must approve by 60% to pass, would raise the property tax exemption on primary homes from its current level of $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and then to $250,000 in 2028.
If approved, the move would substantially reduce the amount of property taxes — local government’s main source of revenue — that cities like Boynton Beach could collect from homeowners.
Boynton Beach would lose between $18 million and $22 million if voters approve the big cut, Dugger told city commissioners June 2.
The first things the city will have to cut, Dugger said, include the public library, parks, pools, rec centers, events, the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum and senior programs. Municipalities would still be required to fund public safety, education and infrastructure if the tax cut passes.
Boynton wants to sell fire department, water system to county
To save the city from financial decimation, Dugger has proposed having Palm Beach County’s government buy the city’s fire-rescue and water departments for around $500 million, putting the money in what he calls a municipal endowment fund.
Dugger said he and his staff have spoken about this with County Administrator Joe Abruzzo, who did not return a request for comment from The Post. The status of these sales to the county remain unclear.
“If these mergers are successful it will provide additional funding to cover some of these revenue shortfalls,” Dugger wrote in his email to city workers. “While some departments might look different in the future our goal is to ensure you still have a seat at the table.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton city manager vows job protections after ‘mass layoffs’ warning
Reporting by Chris Persaud, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris Persaud, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
