"I expect it to get lower" when the town council casts its final budget vote during a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday, said Mayor Tom Truex, who did not specify how much lower.

Under the current $5.10 rate, the owner of a $225,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption paid $1,020 in 2005. Under the $5.05 rate, assuming the property appreciated by maximum 3 percent allowed under the Save Our Homes tax cap, that owner would pay $1,044.08 -- or $24 more than in 2005.

At Wednesday night's town council meeting, Parrish argued the rates were too high. She hit hard on the staff's repeated use of town credit cards at Publix, 1-800-Flowers, pizza parlors, restaurants, the Seminole Hard Rock and other places.

She questioned such purchases as $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 all town employees should be enrolled in an HMO plan, that too much is being spent on golf and special events, and no charities should be awarded more than $5,000 unless they have an audited financial statement.

"She's right in saying we need to take a look at some of the financial procedures," said Truex, even though the town recently hired two auditors to assess its financial system. "It seems there's still potential for abuse."

Laurie Brasner, president of the Long Lake Ranches homeowners association in western Davie, said some neighbors are moving because of high taxes.

"We're very upset," said Brasner, whose town tax bill under the initial proposal would be $5,290. Her county tax bill would be more than $20,000. "There must be accountability. We don't know how money is being spent and where it's being spent."

Vice Mayor Mike Crowley said about $100,000 would be slashed from the education fund, and $1.5 million reallocated from insurance reserves to cover health-care expenses.

The residents' concerns are echoed in a report prepared by a certified public accountant, who found that a contractor billed the town too much for concrete removal and pavement work, and that Davie paid other contractors for equipment the town bought on its own.

A different auditor has urged officials to purge their vendor list to prevent duplication and eliminate those that are no longer doing business with the town.

Truex agreed that the town's education reimbursement policy "is extremely generous" and said, "the holiday party is going to be less festive this year than last year."

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