WMG Volume 6 • Issue 15 August 7, 2019
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City Debates Budget Tax rate to decrease By Sallie James Municipal property taxes here will $216.09 annually. The reason? A lower decrease slightly if city officials approve percentage of residential properties the proposed 2019-2020 tax rate, but used fire services in proportion to other homeowners may still pay more because property types. Last year, Wilton Manors hiked the property values rose 7.09 percent. City commissioners tentatively fire assessment fee for single family adopted a municipal tax rate of $6.3529 homes by $4.73. However, the city per $1,000 assessed predicts the fire value, down slightly Residents’ total assessment fees will from the current rate rise again next year, of $6.4548 due to a property tax bill when Wilton Manors decrease in the debt also includes renegotiates its contract service rate. additional fees with the city of Fort What that means Lauderdale, which is the owner of a paid to Broward provides its fire rescue $350,000 single family County Schools, services. home would pay Fire assessment $2,223.52 in municipal the North Broward fees for commercial, property taxes if Hospital District, industrial, institutional, the proposed rate is government and nursing approved. Residents’ South Florida rates are all slated total property tax bill Water Management home to rise this year. also includes additional District and other Water and sewage rates fees paid to Broward are expected to remain County Schools, the entities. unchanged. North Broward Hospital Budget hearings on District, South Florida Water Management District and other the city’s $38.9 million budget are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall on entities. According to the proposed budget, August 27 and September 12. The city budget includes one new fire assessment fees would also drop slightly for the first time in 12 years position for an economic development from the current rate of $219.24 to manager. WMG
Wilton Manors Elementary School. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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Opinion
The Water Outage Should Not Be Blamed on Wilton Manors
Our city has done a great job in investment, planning and paying for its needed infrastructure projects
August 7, 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 15 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre Photo credit: Jx
The past few weeks have offered much notifications and constant interruptions to material for me to easily slide back into be just extremely annoying. Directing frustration for the many years perfecting the art of sarcasm in my twiceof neglected infrastructure throughout monthly writings for the “Gazette.” First and foremost was the disastrous Fort Lauderdale should be directed towards water main break that caused mayhem the City Hall located on Andrews Avenue, for so many. Then there were budget not the one located on Wilton Drive. Our meetings, misinformation on social media, city has done a great job in investment, code enforcement issues, Wilton Drive planning and paying for the needed complaints, and so much more tempting infrastructure projects that ensure future safety, demands and performance. We have opportunities. On top of all these opportunities was also paid higher and higher rates to the City also the awareness that my credentials in of Fort Lauderdale for our water and sewer the Royal Order of Ancient & Accepted needs. Unfortunately, for many years the Curmudgeons, the ROAAC to many, have City of Fort Lauderdale used much of that been called into question over my recent revenue to help fund their General Fund declaration of keeping a more positive Budget instead of making the necessary and much needed improvements to their attitude and writing style. Temptation and peer pressure swirling infrastructure. Thankfully, under new leadership of around me, jostling me to pick up the quill and begin scribbling words of attack Mayor Dean Trantalis and others, the City upon those in need a good public lashing, I of Fort Lauderdale is dancing to the beat of a struggle to set myself back down the path of new drummer, recognizing the many years of past neglect. This change in direction positive thinking. Reviewing some of the comments will not cause the necessary improvements to happen overnight. made on social media, Unfortunately, those during Public Comments investments will take at City Commission I was rather much time to bring meetings and overheard surprised at infrastructure up to date conversations around along with the ability to town, one could easily the volume meet growing demands. think that civilization has and degree Surrounding cities and begun a downward spiral their many residents will into the depths of smallof nastiness have to keep their fingers minded selfishness. I crossed, hopeful to dodge guess it all seems so much directed at our future scenarios while more real when we have a city officials improvements, updating practitioner of these horrid and replacing aged traits serving as President, over the water infrastructure begin to take blasting out negativity on emergency last place. a daily basis. Luckily many Even under the best of in our community choose week. circumstances, tragedy, a more proactive approach accidents or Mother Nature to life. I was rather surprised at the volume can cause disruption in our daily lives and degree of nastiness directed at our and safety. That is the time we need to city officials over the water emergency come together, help our communities, last week. Perhaps it is the frustration over and do whatever we can to get through. things we cannot control or the need to Unfortunately, some in our community receive tidbits of information constantly looked to point fingers, demand personal every few minutes in our digital world. attention and post very negative diatribes Having received the initial notice detailing all over social media. Setting that aside for now, before the problem and estimating that it would exist for the next 24 to 36 hours, how could allowing negative thoughts to consume my getting that same information texted to mind, I will move on to other news. Here in our Island City, our Mayor and your phone every five minutes make you more informed? I find such overly frequent City Commission made it clear this past
WMG Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
Editorial
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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MEMBER
week that there will be no raising of the millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed budget looked to have a slight increase, but due to the vote by our City Commission, the maximum rate is now set at the current level. After the next budget workshop, we will hopefully see the millage rate decreased further. Included in the budget are funds for the much anticipated streetscaping of Wilton Drive and for Jaycee Park across from City Hall. Moving ahead with this next phase for the Drive, along with new signage throughout the Arts & Entertainment District and at entranceways into our Island City, there will be plenty for us to be proud of. City projects, budgeting and future planning take considerable involvement by residents, elected officials and city staff. The proactive involvement by many in our community counteracts the divisiveness of the few. That divisiveness and acrimony can wear you down at times, but that is when one should take a step back to smile and be thankful. Those few moments of positive affirmation can be contagious and will be what makes life continually just better here. WMG
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The Leisure Services Dept. now has outdoor storage available at Hagen Park for Wilton Manors residents. To learn more, visit bit.ly/WMHagenPark. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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August 7, 2019
Second Quarter 2019:
Real Estate
Sales and Inventory By James Oaksun Last time, I took a first look at second-quarter pricing in Wilton Manors, and showed that adjusting sale prices per the factor method discussed in previous columns moderated the price increase relative to 2Q18. This time, a brief look at sales counts and inventory trends. First, sales. Per MLS, there were 47 closed sales of singlefamily homes in the Island City in the second quarter of 2019. This was a six-percent decrease from the same quarter in the previous year, and a 28-percent decrease from 2Q17. As I have noted in previous columns, I believe it is best to consider sales on a rolling four-quarter basis, to account for seasonality. That’s what the sales bar chart here indicates. There were 180 closed sales in the four quarters ended June 30, 2019. That’s a four-percent decrease from 2Q18, and an eight-percent drop from two years ago. You can also see in
I believe it is best to consider sales on a rolling four-quarter basis, to account for seasonality.
the chart that from the peak in the first-quarter of 2017, four-quarter sales have decreased by 11 percent. So, sales are definitely slowing a bit. Now, for inventory. I’ve also discussed in previous columns my frustration with the “official” inventory numbers, which I think are optimistic. As I result, I developed my own proprietary methodology based on my former career in Insurance Actuary-Land. Take a look at the inventory chart here. The line indicates the monthly inventory trend for single-family homes in WilMa going back two years. Pay attention also to the lightly-shaded area. As long as the line stays within that shaded area, I would consider the inventory level as “balanced” - favoring neither buyers nor sellers. Above the shaded area would indicate elevated inventory, and thus more of a buyer’s advantage. Contrariwise, below the shaded area would indicate a tight inventory situation that would generally favor sellers. In other words, we are seeing fewer homes on the market as sales activity has cooled – which is keeping total inventory in balance. WMG James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is BrokerOwner of New Realty Concepts in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).
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business
Rumors Bar and Grill to Close Aug. 18 By Jason Parsley Rumors Bar and Grill will close down August 18. The bar posted the announcement on Facebook. “Over the last 6.5 years we have had the pleasure of serving our community. We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for making us their destination,” the Facebook post reads. “The surrounding businesses for welcoming us. And most of all our incredible staff! Without your outstanding service, none of this could had been possible. The lasting memories we have made will be with us always.” The announcement also included a final drink special: half priced drinks from open to close everyday. Goodbye messages poured into Facebook. “Oh my first bar I went to while moving here 8 months ago. The atmosphere, the people and staff made me feel home and loved. I’m gonna miss you all,” Gabe Galan wrote. While Rebecca Kathleen added: “I’m shocked and heartbroken. We were just there and I never would have saw this coming. Best wishes to
Photo via Rumors, Facebook.
everyone there and on their new journeys. This was the best bar I’ve been to ever and so many memories have been made. Thank you for all the endless laughs and smiles and wonderful conversations.” One commenter had a theory on why the bar might be closing. “The competition level on the drive is too intense for owners who don’t have deep pockets to survive. As long as the bars are forced to basically give away their drinks to get people in the bar, this is going to happen eventually to many of them,” Greg Phelps said. “Believe me. I’ve been in their shoes!” WMG
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