Treasure Coast Sun

Port St. Lucie City Manager Jesus Merejo has published his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, including a recommended property tax (millage) rate decrease for property owners for the ninth consecutive year.

Fiscal Year 2024-25 begins Oct. 1, and the proposed budget recommends a total of $807 million for the City’s operating and capital funds. The proposed budget supports the City’s strategic goal to be a high-performing government organization and its initiative to reduce the City’s tax rate while ensuring a balanced budget that continues to provide excellent services for City residents.

Overall, the proposed budget continues Port St. Lucie’s fiscally responsible and responsive approach to managing taxpayer dollars. Now the sixth-largest city in Florida and the second largest in South Florida, the recommended budget seeks to provide City staff with resources to respond quickly to current community needs and deliver services to residents that enhance quality of life and plan for the future.

“The proposed budget provides the increased public services necessary to meet the growing needs of the City, while also focusing on improving our efficiency through innovation,” City Manager Merejo said. “Our goal with this budget is to support the City Council in making financially sound decisions and continue maintaining the quality-of-life Port St. Lucie residents have come to expect.”

The proposed budget recommends reducing the City’s overall tax rate by 0.0750 mills from this year’s rate. The millage rate is the rate of tax per $1,000 of taxable property value. The City Manager’s proposed overall total tax rate is 5.1250 for FY 2024-25.

The total proposed FY 2024-25 City budget represents an increase of 13.7% compared to the adopted budget for FY 2023-24.

Notable items included in the proposed budget are:

Road and Mobility Improvements

Capital funding to improve traffic flow at intersections including Port St. Lucie Boulevard from Paar Drive to Alcantara Boulevard, Gatlin Boulevard and Savona Boulevard, and St. Lucie West Boulevard and Peacock Boulevard.

$1 million for more sidewalks plus another $500,000 for sidewalk repair.

$4 million for roadway resurfacing across the city.

Public Safety

Additional funding for new sworn police officers.

Continued funding of $13 million to construct PSL’s first Police Training Facility.

$1.4 million for security cameras and lighting at city parks.

Parks & Recreation

Continued funding of $3.1 million for O.L. Peacock Sr. Park construction.

Funding for design and construction of Torino Regional Park.

Continued funding for Tradition Regional Park.

Water and Sewer Management

Funding design and construction wells planned Rangeline Road Osmosis Water Treatment Facility keep pace growing service demands.

High-Performing Government

44 new positions meet growing public service demands including police officers positions departments support public safety high-quality infrastructure facilities.

For Fiscal Year 2024-25 there will be an increase existing non-ad valorem Annual Assessments listed separately your tax bill:

Stormwater Fee: Additional funds needed operate maintain necessary infrastructure projects resulting stormwater fee increasing by $5 in 2024 as operation costs continue increase.

Solid Waste Fee: Solid waste fee will increase by $13.77 contractual obligation based solid waste franchise agreement FCC standard solid waste contracts throughout country covers increased costs labor equipment vehicle maintenance fuel disposal costs.

Water Sewer Rates: A 5.5% increase go into effect October 1, 2024 water use rates sewer rates not proposed increase utility customer average monthly bill (5,000 gallons) projected increase by $1.88 necessary cover increasing demand water production increased daily operating costs associated meeting state federal treatment regulations funding renewal replacement aging infrastructure recent rate study evaluated Port St Lucie Utility Systems’ projected operating Capital Improvement budgets finances advised stormwater fee raised minimum $5 each year account inflation help offset rising construction maintenance costs

City Council review City Manager's proposed budget workshop held July 24-26 televised live City's website Xfinity (Channel20) Blue Stream Fiber (Channel20). Budget adopted September public hearings Sept9 at530pm Sept23 at530pm Additionally PortStLucie host two town halls residents meet offer input learn how city's taxes used provide infrastructure needs services programs community In-person town hall Aug27 PortStLucie Botanical Gardens2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd6-8pm virtual option Aug29 Information participate available City's website social media pages nearer To find full visit www.cityofpsl.com/budget