Coral Springs' three-pronged financial strategy to deal with its budget deficit was largely welcomed by city residents but the adoption of the property tax rolled-back rate and the subsequent 16 percent increase in the operating millage rate decision did not go down well with a few.

George Rahael, founder and CEO of Amera Companies, wondered if homeowners and business owners would be able to afford the tax increase. “There are people out there hurting; there are people out there who have lost jobs. The tax increase will affect residents who have been here for a long time. For some, it will be an increase of $90; for some, it will be more.”

This may pose additional hardships to some people,” he said.

“Businesses will be affected too,’ Rahael said. “We have lost quite a few businesses; many can’t even pay rent. A 16 percent added tax on businesses might cause additional hardships.”

Dave Hulett, resident, sought the enhancement of community policing activities in the city and supported the city’s decision to adopt the property tax rolled-back rate. “We are talking about $90; that would be about $7.50 per month. You don’t even get a meal at Wendy’s for that. I live in Coral Springs because of the quality of life. We can’t let that deteriorate.”

Coral Springs plans to adopt a property tax rolled-back rate that will allow it to collect the same property tax revenue next fiscal year as the current one, freeze wages of all city employees for a year, and strategically deploy $14 million of reserve funds over the next three years.