Under the new rate, assuming the property appreciated a maximum of 3 percent allowed under the Save Our Homes tax cap, that owner would pay $1,026.69. Initially, council members proposed to lower the tax rate to $5.05. But last Wednesday, Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, a Davie resident, confronted council members and urged them to be stingier with taxpayers' money.

Last Wednesday, she questioned them about the use of town credit cards at such places as TJ Maxx, Publix, Macy's, 1-800-Flowers, and 371 purchases at grocery stores, restaurants and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Parrish complained about the town spending $35,000 for an employee Christmas party, $12,000 to send a code enforcement official to law school, and $24,000 for a town planner to get a law degree at Nova Southeastern University.

She said 90 of the town's 800 employees are costing taxpayers $1.4 million a year in health insurance coverage because they are enrolled in a PPO health plan, as opposed to an HMO, which would be cheaper.

He said Parrish overstated the town's contributions to charities and money spent on the Christmas party. He said some of her suggestions already have been implemented by the town as part of recommendations from two auditors.

Parrish countered all the information -- including credit card purchases, tuition reimbursement and health insurance expenses -- came from town staffers and financial officials.

"Look in the cash disbursements journal, there are purchases at Bed Bath & Beyond and TJ Maxx on the town's credit cards. There is also a $100 gift certificate to Macy's."

"The town needs to be prudent on how they spend taxpayers' money," Oakes said. "The town's current budget does not take that into account ... I don't believe the council is doing its job."

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