OUTSIDE INTEREST’S MYTHS vs ITID FACTS

Setting the Record Straight by the ITID Board of Supervisors

Just a few tidbits of vital information about the Indian Trail Improvement District (est. 1957)

ITID is 95.5 square miles with over 45,000 residents

We maintain 458 miles of total roads & 983 miles of swales

We maintain 70 miles of sidewalks

We maintain 164 miles of canals with 4 pump stations, 18 control structures, 2 impoundments and 14 major canal crossings

We maintain 9 parks with athletic fields & courts, equestrian arenas, an amphitheater, and 9 playgrounds

85% of your tax dollars goes into capital improvements and maintenance for storm water management, roads, and parks. The 15% for administration goes into more than just management. It includes monies for storm water and roadway engineering, plans, legal, permitting, customer service, IT/cybersecurity, utilities, other governmental fees and many other daily services that benefit the landowners of ITID.

Myth: “Indian Trail Improvement District has been blindly plunged into $12.9 million in debt.” – External Political Action Committee Mail Piece

Fact: Indian Trail Improvement District added money to the budget based on grants that we received through federal and state sources. This is not true debt but rather an investment in the future that will be paid out through grants to ensure the community parks and roadways stay looking beautiful. The grant funds along with the local match must be accounted for in the budget.

 Aside from special grants like this, it is important to point out that ITID does not receive general funding from the federal and state government like the County and other municipalities. As a special district, funds are raised through landowner assessments and invested within ITID itself. Palm Beach County also does not provide any funding to the District.

 ITID does have 3 bonds. 

1. The Unit 18 Bond was used to build Crestwood Boulevard and is only paid by residents of Madison Green.
2. The Unit 20 Bond is for capital improvements in Santa Rosa Groves. Only those landowners pay for the debt.
3. The R3 Unit Bond is for district-wide road improvements such as 140^th Avenue & Tangerine along the Acreage Community Park. It also includes the first phase of traffic calming for speed tables.

Additionally, the District announced that assessments are expected to remain steady in 2025, without the increases needed over the last few years. Holding the rate the same in 2025 is a credit to how the last few years of assessment increases frontloaded project funding currently in progress.

 More facts here: https://www.indiantrail.com/home/showpublisheddocument/718/638217692281470000

https://gotowncrier.com/2024/05/itid-assessment-increase-unlikely-in-2025-budget/

Myth: “Taxes are being raised with no information as to where the money is going.” – External Political Action Committee Mail Piece

Fact: Indian Trail Improvement District received grants awards totaling over $16.5 million. The District will only pay approximately $4.5 million of that total amount. However, the total amount must be shown within the budget. Part of this did require a raise in taxes - once the grant money is provided then ITID will be able to offset the budget for future grant expenses. Ultimately these grants save residents $0.50 or more on the dollar for infrastructure improvements that must be completed such as drainage and road enhancements.

In addition, numerous projects, including park maintenance and road repair have been paid for or started in 2024, meaning that no raise is expected in 2025 as most of the cost of those projects has been offset in previous years.

More facts here: https://www.indiantrail.com/home/showpublisheddocument/718/638217692281470000

https://gotowncrier.com/2024/05/itid-assessment-increase-unlikely-in-2025-budget/

Myth: “[Indian Trail Improvement District] ITID’s per-acre assessments have risen steadily over the last four years.” – External Political Action Committee Mail Piece

Fact: As costs for supplies and repairs increase, as well as with the start of necessary deferred maintenance projects on roads and other infrastructure, ITID invested only in the necessary amount to support our growing community in times of inflation and a competitive climate for building and construction work.

ITID operates in the same competitive construction market for qualified contractors and skilled labor to build and maintain our infrastructure. The costs to have construction and maintenance done in Florida has increased rapidly over the last few years due to growth and a competitive job market for skilled and professional labor. The County and neighboring cities received several millions of dollars from the federal government to help offset these costs during and after COVID, but Florida Special Districts like ITID were not eligible.

More facts here: https://www.indiantrail.com/home/showpublisheddocument/718/638217692281470000

Myth: “Indian Trail Improvement District staff have been given frivolous raises at the expense of the taxpayer.” – External Political Action Committee Mail Piece

Fact: All staff pay and official duties are publicly available, and openly discussed as part of the ITID budget process to ensure transparency and accountability for the taxpayers and residents.

In order to ensure that the Indian Trail Improvement District can retain experienced and quality staff, wages must meet inflation and be competitive to the market for surrounding governments and companies. ITID also had to comply with the voter-backed minimum wage increase. The District cannot risk investing time and money into training employees that we immediately lose to private businesses and other public entities who offer more competitive wages and benefits.

More facts here: https://www.indiantrail.com/home/showpublisheddocument/718/638217692281470000

https://gotowncrier.com/2024/05/itid-assessment-increase-unlikely-in-2025-budget/