Page 11 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - April '20

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Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 11
Northern Notes

Dollars And Sense 1937 and serving more than 3,300 professionals from state, accounted for,” Burke said. “This accountability is a key

(Of Purpose) county and city governments, school districts, colleges and ingredient to ensure people’s faith in government.”
universities, special districts, and private firms.
Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District’s
The FGFOA is dedicated to being a professional resource finance department consists of a finance director, budget
By Katie Roundtree, by providing opportunities through education, networking, manager, fiscal specialist/receptionist, information system
Finance Director, Northern leadership and information. The weeklong series of specialist/payroll clerk and two part-time interns. Staff is
Palm Beach County activities sponsored by the FGFOA and all of its member responsible for preparing and managing an approximately
Improvement District governmental organizations, is aimed at recognizing $37 million budget for roughly 50 unique units of
By official proclamation, government finance professionals and the vital services development. Each unit has its own budget and assessment
on March 10, the Palm that they provide to our state and to our communities. rate(s). Northern’s tax roll is certified each year with
Beach County Board of “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the approximately 160 different assessment rates that are
County Commissioners, talents of many professionals who are generally not in applied to each of the 58,000 parcels within the district.
designated March 16 to 20 the public eye,” said FGFOA President Ken Burke. “We We take our responsibility seriously and that gives us
as “Government Finance offer congratulations to all of the government finance the sense of purpose to ensure the proper accountability
Professionals Week.” This professionals throughout the state of Florida as we of taxpayers’ money. The most recent audit of the
inaugural Government celebrate their accomplishments.” financial statements of the district was presented to the
Finance Professionals Week “The professional finance officer’s knowledge, Board of Supervisors in February and Northern received
is sponsored by the Florida Government Finance Officers integrity and dedication make certain that funds entrusted an unmodified opinion on the fair presentation of the
Association (FGFOA), a professional association founded in to government are properly budgeted, disbursed and financial statements, the best result possible.
Finally, we are in the process of drafting our 2020/21
budget. In an effort to communicate our spending plan
to our constituents, Northern’s staff will hold meetings
with unit representatives, including landowners, property
managers and homeowner association representatives.
The district’s Budget and Banking Committee will
carefully review all aspects of the proposed budget.
Meetings will be held throughout the late spring and
early summer to discuss the budget with the Board of
Supervisors. Check our website for our meeting schedule.
NPDES tip: Please do not put any excess oils, paints
or solvents into lakes, canals, or storm drains! They go
directly into the ground water supply.

New Zealand from page 10

that of the wine country of France or the Napa Valley. The
white wines harvested in this area are world class. Apples,
cherries and sheep all take advantage of the abundant
sunshine along the Marlborough Sound.
The Otago Peninsula on the southern end of the island
is home to the royal Albatross Colony and a rookery of the
endangered yellow-eyed penguin. Just off the shoreline
lays the leading edge of Gondwana, the supercontinent that
submerged several million years ago. At low tide, you can
walk through the petrified remains of a forest that at one time
stood on the continent. Stuart Island lies just off the tip of the
south island, is perhaps the only place on earth that hasn’t
been corrupted by man. Some of the island’s vegetation is
unlike any found anywhere else on earth. Here birds have
no fear of man.
The sights, sounds and culture of New Zealand await
you … enjoy!
Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans,
seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel
Leaders, his family owned and operated agency, is located
at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building
A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has been
serving the travel needs of the South Florida area for over
a quarter of a century. Contact him at (561) 694-9696 or
Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
Photos by Don Kiselewski

Māori house

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