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Margate’s share of the Seminole Compact
• It won't be much, but it'll be something
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Sunday,
April 18, 2010
Once Florida state lawmakers officially sign the Seminole Compact into law, Margate will be one of many cities vying for roughly 3-percent of the $1 billion allotted for state coffers. How much Margate will get is anyone’s guess, said Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella, as no formula is set in place yet to divvy up funds among Broward cities.
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Every day, motorists on their way to the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek pass through Margate. Margate Fire Rescue answers to calls at the casino and Margate police services address collateral damage caused by late night casino action, such as drinking and driving, drug trafficking, stolen vehicles and varying degrees of disorderly conduct and assault.
For more than two years now, Margate city officials have rallied on behalf of taxpayers for impact fees upon on the signing of a Seminole Compact. Now the city may finally get theirs.
Whether Margate gets a fair share, time will tell, said Porcella, as Coral Springs, Parkland, Pompano and other cities impacted by Seminole casinos in Coconut Creek and Hollywood want their fair share of Compact cash too and will be competing against Margate for funds.
“I’m as anxious as anyone to get the money,” Porcella said, speaking to Margate’s need for addition revenue in the face of another tough budget year—a year in which some elected officials fear may result in the cutting back of city services for residents and job losses at city hall.
Plummeting land values, rising unemployment, home foreclosures, a halt in construction, and a declining population will be forcing Margate officials this year to balance the budget with fewer funds than last year—and may even have to dip into the city’s $6 million in reserves to make it happen.
“If you think 2009 was bad, wait and see what happens this year,” said Margate Commissioner Frank Talerico.
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