Steven Arnst has lost his reelection bid for city commissioner in Oakland Park. The city was electing two commissioners and Arnst finished fourth of four candidates, just three votes behind David Anderson.

Lloyd Estates Elementary sits in the middle of an Oakland Park neighborhood. It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of Andrews Ave. just blocks to the east, and it is, in its own way, the center of its own universe. But, the school isn’t as bustling as it once was.

When the city of Oakland Park agreed to sell the now-former city hall and other properties to build the Horizon project in 2022, many if not most assumed it would be close to finished by now. Four years later, the city still owns the properties and the buildings still stand. At the city commission meeting on Oct. 7, another change was made to the agreement.

The new budget year is underway and Oakland Park has big dreams and a budget to match. City Commissioners passed the annual budget, which took effect Oct. 1. Running the city will cost $180.6 million this year, up from $173 million last year.