Sunrise considers tax for parks and higher fire fee

Park tax would be $38 per $100,000 of property value.
Park tax would be $38 per $100,000 of property value.

City commissioners will consider proposals to assess an additional property tax for parks in Sunrise and to raise the city’s fire fee.

Homeowners would pay a $199.50 fire fee in the fiscal year that starts October 1, up from $169.50.

The base property tax rate would remain unchanged at $605 per $100,000 of taxable value.

But homeowners would pay an additional tax of $38 per $100,000 to help repay $65 million bond debt supporting public parks, which voters approved last year. Sunrise plans to build new parks and to improve and expand existing ones.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

City commissioners will consider the proposed park tax and fire-fee increase at public hearings Tuesday and on September 29.

City Manager Richard Salamon told the Sun-Sentinel the city has balanced its budget for the next fiscal year without tapping emergency reserves for the first time in 10 years. The city’s budget includes 12 new positions including two in the fire department and four in the police department.

Among other park projects, Sunrise plans to expand Welleby Park with recently acquired land for a dog park.

Salamon told the Sun-Sentinel that “we’re continuing to look at other land acquisitions. We have big plans but those plans are dependent on us finding more land for parks.” [Sun-Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth