Page 5 - Jupiter West - September '21

Jupiter West, Page 5
Commissioner’s Update

County Budget Crunch Time accomplish goals and objectives identified as necessary real property’s value – at 4.7815 mils. This will generate
to the purpose of your county government. Included in the approximately $1.054 billion, a 4.8 percent increase,
By County Commissioner budget are estimates of the appropriations of the resources given the increase in property values.
Maria Marino required, the tax and nontax revenues available to support Revenue sources for the general fund include property
In a previous article, implementation of projects and programs, and the number taxes (63.3 percent), fund balance – the excess of fund
I described the many of staff positions estimated to fulfill the optimum level assets over liabilities (17.5 percent), intergovernmental
responsibilities of a county of service. revenues – in the form of grants, entitlements, shared
commissioner. Probably Strategic priorities identified by the Board of County revenues, or payments in lieu of taxes (13.2 percent),
one of the most important Commissioners for ad valorem funding (the money licenses, permits and fees (3 percent), charges for services
of those duties is the collected from your property taxes) include economic (2.6 percent), and interfund transfers (.4 percent).
adoption of a balanced development, housing and homelessness, environmental The pandemic dealt epic public health and economic
budget for each fiscal year, protection, infrastructure, substance abuse and behavioral hardships to individuals, families and businesses, and
which begins every Oct. 1. disorders, and public safety. at the same time, county revenues came up short, to the
The budget, which funds For the 11th straight year, the Board has set the tune of $74 million since fiscal year 2019. Gas taxes,
many vital services to the public, is really a plan to countywide millage rate – the tax rate per $1,000 of your 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
Rex Recommends and constructing capital improvement projects continue
to go up.
The Board had to find a way to fill a $46.4 million
By Rex Hearn Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow begins on March 25 shortfall for the coming fiscal year. In order to avoid
The season will soon and 26 and its last performance is on March 27 at 2 p.m. substantial cuts to reserves, department budgets
be upon us. Masks? No Opening night dinners are on Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and March and staffing, the Sheriff’s Department (PBSO), and
masks? COVID or a 25. The Lunch and Learn talks held at the National Supervisor of Elections’ budgets, the Board approved the
variant? Vaccinated or Croquet Center are on Thursday, Jan. 20; Thursday, Feb. allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars
not, most arts groups 17; and Wednesday, March 16. View website at pbopera. for eligible expenses, which include capital improvement
in Palm Beach County org, or call (561) 833-7888. projects for PBSO and county facilities. Those funds
want to entertain you. Palm Beach Symphony, Kravis Center must be under contract by fiscal year 2024 and spent by
Remember Palm Beach No more roaming around the county, the orchestra is fiscal year 2026. While this is not a recurring, long-term
Opera’s daring three anchored at the Kravis Center from now on, thanks to their solution to shortfalls, budget analysts anticipate a gradual
operas at the 6,000-seat new conductor, the estimable Gerard Schwarz. This year return of revenues to pre-pandemic levels over the next
auditorium last February? their first concert is on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. featuring five years.
All the top singers from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30, For an in-depth look at the county’s tax dollars and
the Metropolitan Opera came to sing because their house p.m. has the Mozart Requiem in D minor with the Master financial health, and important economic trends, the clerk
was closed! Not Palm Beach, it was the only major America Chorale of South Florida. of the circuit court and comptroller publishes annually
opera company to have a season in the pandemic! Here’s In the New Year, 2022, on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Yefim a citizen’s guide known as Checks & Balances. You can
what you’ll hear in their 60th year! Bronfman plays the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3. find it online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/pafr, or,
Palm Beach Opera, Kravis Center There will be no concert in February. On Monday, March you may contact them by phone at (561) 355-2468 or by
Bizet’s Carmen goes up Jan. 28 and 29, 2022 at 7:30 7 at 7:30 p.m., Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 is featured. email at ccpbc@mypalmbeachclerk.com.
p.m. and Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. And on Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. Dvorak’s rollicking As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance
Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love hits the boards on Feb. Symphony No. 8 will close the season. For fuller details to you by calling (561) 355-2201 or send an email to
25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. go to: palmbeachsymphony.org or call (561) 281-0145. mmarino@pbcgov.org.

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Richard Faro, MD,
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