Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Lowers Taxes, Increases Spending

Robert Baldwin currently serves as city manager of Dania Beach, Florida.

To this role, he brings more than 20 years of experience in municipal
administration of Florida locales like Forth Worth and Lauderdale-by-theSea.
While serving as town manager of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Mr. Baldwin
spearheaded the successful annexation of a nearby condo complex, which
increased the municipalitys tax base by nearly 60 percent. In doing do, the
town saw a spending bump of 30 percent and tax decrease of 20 percent to
one of the lowest in Broward County. The proposed budget for the following
year included a $3.85 levy per $1,000 of taxable property value,
representing a full dollar decrease from the previous year.
City officials credited the tax reduction to the Florida Legislature, which
approved an expansion of Lauderdale-by-the-Seas northern limits. The
new boundaries encompass the previously unincorporated Sea Ranch
Lakes condominium community and its 1,800 residents.
While granting residents a substantial tax reduction, city officials were still
able to fund a budget of $4.1 million, an $818,000 increase from the
previous year. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea earmarked the excess funds for a
number of local improvements, including police force hiring, parking meter
repairs, and beach maintenance.