Riviera Beach commemorates the end of a mold-infested police headquarters
Riviera Police Chief Michael Coleman walked to the city’s mold-infested headquarters on May 7 with a sledgehammer to signal the building’s demolition.
Riviera Beach plans to slightly reduce property taxes to reflect what city officials expect to be higher costs to residents from building a new police headquarters, fire station and recreational facilities.
In March, residents approved three ballot measures that would allow the city to raise up to $115 million through bond sales for police, fire and recreation projects. Anticipating higher debt service costs, Riviera Beach staff is drafting a $111.4 million general fund budget that would reduce the tax rate from 8.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value to just under 8.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Rising property tax values in Riviera Beach mean the city will collect even more property tax revenue — $69.78 million in fiscal year 2025, up from $61.85 million this fiscal year. And residents will still see a slightly higher tax bill.
Some seniors in Riviera Beach are eligible for an additional property tax exemption that would reduce their property tax bill.
The average home value in Riviera Beach is $403,176 and has increased 2.3% over the past year, according to figures from Zillow.
Based on these figures, and assuming a $50,000 property tax exemption, the owner of a $403,176 home in Riviera Beach can expect to pay at least $2,926 in property taxes, about $54 more than last year. These figures do not include any debt or security levies.
NEWS FROM RIVIERA BEACH: City unveils plans for ‘groundbreaking’ $500 million mixed-use development project
Riviera Beach will hold its first budget hearing on September 5, with a second public hearing scheduled for September 18. The fiscal year 2025 budget will take effect on October 1.
Faced with rising costs for budget items such as insurance, wages and benefits, and equipment and materials, cities often seek to keep property tax rates stable and generate additional revenue from rising property tax values.
NEWS FROM RIVIERA BEACH: City creates 110 affordable housing units with the opening of Berkeley Landing
However, Riviera Beach has opted to reduce property taxes.
“The purpose of the staff reductions proposed in this budget document was so that in the future we would consider some of the increases associated with the bonds that our community successfully passed,” said Riviera Beach City Manager Jonathan Evans. “We wanted to provide some relief as part of this budget process.”
NEWS FROM RIVIERA BEACH: Why Riviera Beach could continue to be a gem among residential areas despite past difficulties
Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected]. Support our work and subscribe today.
