Critics worry that Fort Lauderdale\u2019s plan to build a pricey new City Hall in the face of an uncertain economic climate could lead to layoffs and cuts to key services.<\/p>\n
Current city estimates say the $268 million venture will end up costing taxpayers a staggering $724.8 million over 30 years \u2014 or $24.2 million a year.<\/p>\n
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, unnerved by talk of statewide property tax reform and a looming multiyear budget deficit, is now having second thoughts about committing all that money to a futuristic City Hall.<\/p>\n
Sorensen was one of four \u201cyes\u201d votes when the commission approved a plan in December to build a new City Hall. That was before commissioners were told the owner of a nearby office tower offered to sell<\/a> the 25-year-old building to Fort Lauderdale for $86 million \u2014\u00a0an option Sorensen has repeatedly said he\u2019d like to pursue.<\/p>\n Commissioner John Herbst, who cast the lone dissenting vote in December, also says it makes more sense to buy an existing building.<\/p>\n Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioners Steve Glassman and Pamela Beaskey-Pittman, who cast the other three \u201cyes\u201d votes in December, have resisted attempts<\/a> to change course.<\/p>\n A vote on an interim comprehensive agreement with the top-ranked developer<\/a> chosen to build City Hall is coming on April 21.<\/p>\n Sorensen told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he thinks the commission needs to delay that vote.<\/p>\n \u201cThe interim agreement will require the city to reimburse the developer for their expenses, which is going to be millions of dollars,\u201d Sorensen said this week. \u201cWe should not sign the interim agreement on April 21. We are already looking at a massive budget deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n Sorensen says he is worried the city won\u2019t be able to afford making $24.2 million in annual payments over the course of 30 years without hiking the tax rate, cutting services and resorting to layoffs. The total payout for the new City Hall comes to $724.8 million when accounting for other fees, including interest payments over 30 years.<\/p>\n Trantalis and Glassman dismissed Sorensen\u2019s concerns during a recent City Hall meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are where we are because Commissioner Sorensen was part of a 4-1 vote to move forward with this development team,\u201d Glassman told the Sun Sentinel. \u201cNegotiations have begun and a majority of the commission has reiterated its commitment to draft an interim agreement and then a comprehensive agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n