Delray Beach residents seem to be displeased with a city commission decision to raise property taxes 12 percent. Even though a small crowd showed up to the city commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, on the street in downtown Delray Beach the buzz was negative about the recent property tax decision.

Unemployed homeowner Eileen Rosen said she bought her home for $187,000 during the mid-decade real estate boom and then braced as her home value depleted and she lost her job.
“It’s a drag. This year my house is worth a lot less and the value of the home is down yet taxes are higher,” she said.

Ray Breighner, a stone mason working on a project at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Northeast Second Avenue agreed. The resident and homeowner said pay has failed to increase in the blue collar sector, an issue he’s truly concerned about.

“Everybody’s hurting and making less yet paying more. Right now it’s just an inappropriate time to raise property taxes,” Breighner said.
One retiree, Al Shannus of Pines of Delray, attended the meeting to let commissioners know of his disgust of the 12 percent property tax hike. Shannus is the vice president of his neighborhood homeowners' association.

“I think it’s totally outrageous. I plan to voice my opinion to our city commissioners,” Shannus said.