By Sharon Aron Baron
Since Broward County schools are closed this week, don’t plan on visiting a Tamarac park this Monday.
In fact, visit any neighboring city park except Tamarac, where you will find all facilities open to the public.
Back in 2010, the City of Tamarac was faced with a $4.7 million budget gap, so they raised the tax rate and closed the parks and community center one day a week.
Since then, Tamarac has accumulated $24.5 million in reserve funds. This amount is in excess of 75% of its total annual expenditures of $32.6 million for 2010. The recommended minimum of the Government Finance Officers Association is about 17% of its annual expenditures. This means that Tamarac is holding on to over $19 million in excess reserve funds.
Instead of opening our parks back up, the city commission has voted to purchase the Colony West Golf Course for $3 million. A golf course that does not need a city to own to prevent the land use from changing.
According to Financial Director Mark Mason, the city has no plans to open up the parks on Mondays.
So to our residents who have a Monday off Drive to North Lauderdale to use their Dog Park. If you need swing sets to entertain your preschoolers, you can head to Lauderhill or Coral Springs. Thank you to those cities as I have used all of their parks on Mondays.