Page 9 - Jupiter Spotlight - September '21

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 9
Commissioner’s Update

County Budget Crunch Time programs, and the number of staff positions estimated to Revenue sources for the
fulfill the optimum level of service. general fund include property
By County Commissioner Maria Marino Strategic priorities identified by the Board of County taxes (63.3 percent), fund
In a previous article, I described the many responsibilities Commissioners for ad valorem funding (the money balance – the excess of fund
of a county commissioner. Probably one of the most collected from your property taxes) include economic assets over liabilities (17.5
important of those duties is the adoption of a balanced development, housing and homelessness, environmental percent), intergovernmental
budget for each fiscal year, which begins every Oct. 1. The protection, infrastructure, substance abuse and behavioral revenues – in the form of
budget, which funds many vital services to the public, is disorders, and public safety. grants, entitlements, shared
really a plan to accomplish goals and objectives identified For the 11th straight year, the Board has set the countywide revenues, or payments in
as necessary to the purpose of your county government. millage rate – the tax rate per $1,000 of your real property’s lieu of taxes (13.2 percent),
Included in the budget are estimates of the appropriations value – at 4.7815 mils. This will generate approximately licenses, permits and fees (3
of the resources required, the tax and nontax revenues $1.054 billion, a 4.8 percent increase, given the increase in percent), charges for services
available to support implementation of projects and property values. (2.6 percent), and interfund transfers (.4 percent).
The pandemic dealt epic public health and economic
hardships to individuals, families and businesses, and
Vino With Sting! at the same time, county revenues came up short, to the
tune of $74 million since fiscal year 2019. Gas taxes, the
infrastructure sales tax, and parks and recreation fees were
down a combined $17.7 million this past fiscal year. All the
while, costs for providing public services and constructing
By Laura Berrio, for returning Il Palagio to its previous glory. Now, every capital improvement projects continue to go up.
Freelance Writer/Blogger August, Sting holds a party for everyone to celebrate and The Board had to find a way to fill a $46.4 million
Who wants to go to thank them for their support. They eat, drink wine and of shortfall for the coming fiscal year. In order to avoid
Italy and stay at Sting’s course he sings a few songs! substantial cuts to reserves, department budgets and
Tuscany Estate and (I want to be on this invitation list!) staffing, the Sheriff’s Department (PBSO), and Supervisor
Vineyard? Sting has named the wine produced from the vineyard of Elections’ budgets, the Board approved the allocation
You can rent out the after some of his hit songs … (Message in a Bottle, of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for eligible
entire estate, main house, Roxanne, Sister Moon) just to name a few. expenses, which include capital improvement projects
guesthouses and grounds Sting said, “A wine is like a song – it has a story to for PBSO and county facilities. Those funds must be
for up to 500 people! tell.” under contract by fiscal year 2024 and spent by fiscal year
When I checked on the Sister Moon has been listed as one of the top picks by 2026. While this is not a recurring, long-term solution to
price, it appears to be a Wine Spectator Magazine. shortfalls, budget analysts anticipate a gradual return of
case of, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it! You can travel to Italy to check it out, or run to your revenues to pre-pandemic levels over the next five years.
It all began when Sting and his wife Trudie were favorite wine store! For an in-depth look at the county’s tax dollars and
looking for a summer home in Italy. They found a run- Try a few and message me on your financial health, and important economic trends, the clerk
down estate that formerly produced honey, olive oil and favorites!! of the circuit court and comptroller publishes annually a
wine. They bought the property, Il Palagio, because of the ~ Cheers citizen’s guide known as Checks & Balances. You can find
view! Then they began a decade-long project of bringing ~ Keep the conversation going it online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/pafr, or, you may
the estate, vineyard and olive groves back to life. and the wine flowing! contact them by phone at (561) 355-2468 or by email at
Sting invited all of the neighbors and town locals to Follow the Vine on Instagram ccpbc@mypalmbeachclerk.com.
the farm shop on the estate for a party to share their plans @VineVibeUncorked. As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance
to you by calling (561) 355-2201 or send an email to
mmarino@pbcgov.org.
Rex Recommends

By Rex Hearn Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow begins on March 25
The season will soon and 26 and its last performance is on March 27 at 2 p.m.
be upon us. Masks? No Opening night dinners are on Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and March
masks? COVID or a variant? 25. The Lunch and Learn talks held at the National Croquet
Vaccinated or not, most Center are on Thursday, Jan. 20; Thursday, Feb. 17; and
arts groups in Palm Beach Wednesday, March 16. View website at pbopera.org, or call
County want to entertain (561) 833-7888.
you. Remember Palm Beach Palm Beach Symphony, Kravis Center
Opera’s daring three operas at No more roaming around the county, the orchestra is
the 6,000-seat auditorium last anchored at the Kravis Center from now on, thanks to their new
February? All the top singers conductor, the estimable Gerard Schwarz. This year their first
from the Metropolitan Opera concert is on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. featuring Tchaikovsky’s
came to sing because their Symphony No. 5. Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30, p.m. has the Mozart
house was closed! Not Palm Beach, it was the only major Requiem in D minor with the Master Chorale of South Florida.
America opera company to have a season in the pandemic! In the New Year, 2022, on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Yefim
Here’s what you’ll hear in their 60th year! Bronfman plays the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3.
Palm Beach Opera, Kravis Center There will be no concert in February. On Monday, March 7
Bizet’s Carmen goes up Jan. 28 and 29, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at 7:30 p.m., Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 is featured. And on
and Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. Dvorak’s rollicking Symphony
Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love hits the boards on Feb. 25 No. 8 will close the season. For fuller details go to:
and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. palmbeachsymphony.org or call (561) 281-0145.
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