Page 10 - The Islander - October '19

Page 10, The Islander

northern noteS

Family Communication During And After Disasters

By O’Neal Bardin Jr., Executive Director, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

Your family may not Complete a contact card for each adult family member and email, or social media instead of making voice calls on your
be together when disaster print them out. Have them keep these cards handy in a wallet, cell phone to avoid tying up voice networks. Data-based
strikes, so plan how you purse or briefcase, etc. Additionally, complete contact cards services like texts and emails are less likely to experience
will contact one another. for each child in your family. Put the cards in their backpacks network congestion. You can also use social media to post
Think about how you will or book bags. An example can be found at http://www.fema. your status to let family and friends know you are okay. In
communicate in different gov/media-library/assets/documents/34330. Information addition to Facebook and Twitter, you can use resources such
situations. Consider the should include contact information for family, friends and as the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program.
following questions when neighbors as well as doctors and school information. • If you are unsuccessful in completing a call using your
making a plan: Identify a contact such as a friend or relative who lives cell phone, wait 10 seconds before redialing to help reduce
• How will my family/ out of state for household members to notify, they are safe. network congestion.
household get emergency It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to • Immediately following a disaster, resist using your
alerts and warnings? call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better mobile device to watch streaming videos, download music
• How will my family/household get to safe locations for position to communicate among separated family members. or videos, or play video games, all of which can add to
relevant emergencies? The following are tips when making phone calls and using network congestion. Limiting use of these services can help
• How will my family/household get in touch if the cell your smartphone during or after a disaster: potentially life-saving emergency calls get through to 9-1-1.
phone, Internet, or landline doesn’t work? • Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, • Conserve your cell phone battery by reducing the
• How will I let loved ones know I am safe? try to convey only vital information to emergency personnel brightness of your screen, placing your phone in airplane
• How will family/household get to a meeting place after and/or family. mode, and closing apps you are not using that draw power,
the emergency? • For nonemergency communications, use text messaging, unless you need to use the phone.

loCal government

Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayers: $50,000 – Town of Haverhill, Town of Loxahatchee Groves, the following disabilities:
Welcome fall! Village of Wellington • Quadriplegic • Paraplegic
The end of the 2019 tax $25,000 – Palm Beach County, City of Boynton Beach, City • Hemiplegic • Legally Blind
year is fast approaching and of Lake Worth Beach, Town of Lantana, City of Palm Beach • Total and Permanent Disability, Confined to Wheelchair
October is a busy month in Gardens, Village of Palm Springs, Town of Jupiter • Total and Permanent Disability, Not Confined to Wheelchair
my office as we certify the $5,000 – Village of Royal Palm Beach Some of these exemptions have income limitations.
ad valorem tax roll to the Tax Widow/Widower Exemption For more information on these exemptions or to download
Collector’s Office. Florida grants an additional $500 exemption to widows and and print forms, visit https://www.pbcgov.org/papa/departments/
Also, during this time, widowers. You may submit a copy of the deceased spouse’s exemption.htm. You can always call us at (561) 355-2866 or
petition hearings will begin death certificate. If the surviving spouse remarries, he/she is no email us at myexemption@pbcgov.org.
led by the Value Adjustment longer eligible to receive the additional exemption. Community Outreach Events
Board for property owners Living Quarters Of Parents Or Grandparents Exemption Visit us at one of our public community outreach events
who filed a petition because they disagree with their property (Also Known As The Granny Flat Exemption) this fall. We will be taking homestead exemption applications,
assessment or denied exemption, etc. On average, the number An assessment reduction may be granted to qualified answering questions about property valuations and more.
of petitions filed in Palm Beach County is low, typically less residential property owners who build an addition to their house For a listing of public events, go to our website www.pbcgov.
than 1 percent of the total parcels in the county. to accommodate their parents or grandparents, age 62 or older. org/PAPA and under Tools select Calendar of Events. For details,
As we move into the final months of 2019, I’d like to remind Civilian Disability Exemption contact Mike Pratt, director of Education Services and Community
all property owners to review their homestead exemption status Full or partial exemptions are available for individuals with Outreach at (561) 355-4021 or email mpratt@pbcgov.org.
to determine whether they might qualify for additional property
tax saving benefits. If you do not have a homestead exemption
on your property, we encourage you to apply online or visit one C & T Auto Care
of our five service centers in the county.
Applying for a homestead exemption could save you money.
A $25,000 exemption is applied to the first $50,000 of your
property’s assessed value if your property is your permanent
residence and you owned the property on Jan. 1 of the tax year.
An additional exemption of up to $25,000 will be applied if
your property’s assessed value is between at least $50,000 and
$75,000. (The deadline to apply for a homestead exemption is
March 1 of each tax year.)
This month we will review some of the additional
exemptions available: the limited income senior citizen, widow/
widower, granny flat, and civilian disability exemptions.
I hope you will find this information beneficial.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, “A company you can trust in. A company we are proud to place our name on!”
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Additional Exemptions
A property owner may be eligible for additional exemptions. Brakes ~ Tune-ups ~ Engine Repair ~ A/C ~ Tires ~ Suspension
In order to qualify for the following additional exemptions, you
must have a homestead exemption on your property.
Limited Income Senior Citizen Exemption Engine Diagnostics ~ Cooling Systems ~ Oil Changes
To qualify you must be 65 or older and your adjusted
gross income must meet a maximum level that is adjusted
annually by Florida’s Department of Revenue. The Mention Ad When Scheduling And
income limitation amount is available from my office in
mid-January of each year. The current income limit is Receive 10% OFF Any Service
$30,174. This does not include tax-exempt bond interest
or nontaxable Social Security income. You will be asked Chris Andersen
to provide a copy of your Federal 1040 Tax Form or your 561-629-7214
Social Security 1099 Form. President
The additional benefit for qualified seniors applies only to www.cntautocare.com 1260 Plaza Circle
taxes levied by the following authorities. The county’s senior
exemption does not apply to other taxing authorities, such as candtautocare@yahoo.com Singer Island, FL 33404
the school district and other municipalities.