Page 1 - PGA Community News - September '21

VOL. 31 NO. 9 FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com SEPTEMBER 2021

Commissioner’s Update

County Budget Crunch Time collected from your property taxes) include economic shortfall for the coming fiscal year. In order to avoid
The Board had to find a way to fill a $46.4 million
development, housing and homelessness, environmental
By County Commissioner protection, infrastructure, substance abuse and behavioral substantial cuts to reserves, department budgets and
Maria Marino disorders, and public safety. staffing, the Sheriff’s Department (PBSO), and Supervisor
In a previous article, For the 11th straight year, the Board has set the of Elections’ budgets, the Board approved the allocation
I described the many countywide millage rate – the tax rate per $1,000 of your of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for eligible
responsibilities of a county real property’s value – at 4.7815 mils. This will generate expenses, which include capital improvement projects for
commissioner. Probably approximately $1.054 billion, a 4.8 percent increase, PBSO and county facilities. Those funds must be under
one of the most important given the increase in property values. contract by fiscal year 2024 and spent by fiscal year
of those duties is the Revenue sources for the general fund include property 2026. While this is not a recurring, long-term solution to
adoption of a balanced taxes (63.3 percent), fund balance – the excess of fund shortfalls, budget analysts anticipate a gradual return of
budget for each fiscal year, assets over liabilities (17.5 percent), intergovernmental revenues to pre-pandemic levels over the next five years.
which begins every Oct. 1. revenues – in the form of grants, entitlements, shared For an in-depth look at the county’s tax dollars and
The budget, which funds revenues, or payments in lieu of taxes (13.2 percent), financial health, and important economic trends, the clerk
many vital services to the public, is really a plan to licenses, permits and fees (3 percent), charges for services of the circuit court and comptroller publishes annually
accomplish goals and objectives identified as necessary (2.6 percent), and interfund transfers (.4 percent). a citizen’s guide known as Checks & Balances. You can
to the purpose of your county government. Included in the The pandemic dealt epic public health and economic find it online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/pafr, or,
budget are estimates of the appropriations of the resources hardships to individuals, families and businesses, and you may contact them by phone at (561) 355-2468 or by
required, the tax and nontax revenues available to support at the same time, county revenues came up short, to the email at ccpbc@mypalmbeachclerk.com.
implementation of projects and programs, and the number tune of $74 million since fiscal year 2019. Gas taxes, the As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance
of staff positions estimated to fulfill the optimum level infrastructure sales tax, and parks and recreation fees were to you by calling (561) 355-2201 or send an email to
of service. down a combined $17.7 million this past fiscal year. All the mmarino@pbcgov.org.
Strategic priorities identified by the Board of County while, costs for providing public services and constructing
Commissioners for ad valorem funding (the money capital improvement projects continue to go up.
Northern Notes

Be Prepared For All Types higher. These storms Thunderstorms And Lightning
form in the southern

Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from
Of Natural Disasters Atlantic Ocean, weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims
Caribbean Sea, survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety
By Katie Roundtree, Gulf of Mexico, and of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are
Finance Director, Northern the eastern Pacific dangerous storms that include lightning and can include
Palm Beach County Ocean. Hurricanes powerful winds over 50 mph, hail, flash flooding and
Improvement District develop in four tornadoes.
Get The Facts: Know Your stages: tropical
Risk disturbance, tropical
Hurricane season started depression, tropical
June 1 in our area, and for storm and finally, hurricane.
many, that is when residents Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on
begin to prepare for weather- sustained wind speed. The Atlantic hurricane season runs
related emergencies. But all generally from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the peak season from
types of natural disasters mid-August to late October. To prepare for these powerful
can affect us at any time of year. Knowing what to do storms, learn whether your property is flood-prone, prepare
before, during and after an emergency is a critical part an emergency kit, secure your property against high winds
of being prepared and may make all the difference when and water damage, and know evacuation routes.
seconds count. See below for information about potential Trim trees and shrubs now since garbage collection
emergencies that can happen throughout the year and how may stop once tropical storm force winds affect the
to prepare for and respond to them. area. After the storm, make sure to separate yard trash
Hurricanes from household garbage and recycling. Be patient –
Hurricanes can cause loss of life and catastrophic the first priority for garbage collection is to restore
damage to property on coastlines and several hundred miles normal collection of household garbage and food waste. Tree struck by lightning in PGA National
inland. A hurricane is a tropical cyclone or severe tropical Depending on the severity of the storm, it could take three
storm with sustained winds reaching speeds of 74 mph or to six weeks for the first collection of storm debris. Northern Notes on page 6