Page 10 - Boca Club News - October '21

Page 10, Boca Club News
From the Desk of Palm Beach County Vice Mayor

Robert S. Weinroth: No Increase in Property Tax Rate

Robert Weinroth, a former member Property taxes represents 63% of the county’s general compliance with all county codes to have the outstanding lien
of the Boca Raton City Council, was fund revenue source. Other sources include excess fund assets balance forgiven. The deadline to apply is November 30th,
elected as a Palm Beach County over liabilities (17%), intergovernmental revenues such as 2021 and must include a nonrefundable $250 application fee.
Commissioner to replace Steven grants (13%), licenses, permits and fees (3%), and charges For more information, please contact Marie Jasmin at
Abrams, who retired due to term limits for services (3%). (561) 355-4010.
requirements. The budget process presented us with a number of New electric vehicle charging stations at Governmental
For the 11th straight year, the challenges as a result of the pandemic, which caused a $74 Center. The county recently installed electric vehicle (EV)
Board of County Commissioners million decrease in revenues compared to pre-pandemic fiscal charging stations at the Governmental Center parking garage
voted to maintain the current tax rate year 2019. The areas most negatively impacted were revenues in West Palm Beach for the public and county employees.
at the 4.78 millage rate, which is the tax rate per $1,000 of generated by gas taxes, half-cent sales tax, and parks and Moving forward, this pilot program will include the
your real property’s “taxable” value. Due to the increase in recreation fees. installation of additional charging stations at other county
property values, this will generate a 5.6% increase in tax The Board was able to offset these losses with $46.4 facilities, such as the convention center and courthouses. The
revenue, generating a total of $1.1 billion. Notwithstanding million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds county has contracted with a private company that will install
the recent surge in property values, the taxable value of for eligible expenses (such as capital improvement projects). and maintain the stations, charging market rates for its users.
residential real estate protected by homestead will only This was a small portion of the $291 million in ARPA funds As the vice-chair of the Palm Beach County Transportation
increase by a maximum of 1.4%. the county received. Planning Agency, I will continue to advocate for new and
innovative technology in addressing future transportation

In the next few months, the Board will discuss ARPA
Clerk’s Office funding priorities, which need to be set by 2024 and spent challenges.
Fun things to do in Palm Beach County. The county’s

by 2026 with a focus on impactful, long-term projects
Looks to the Future concerning infrastructure, cybersecurity/broadband, housing, website features a unique page that provides links to over
50 websites, such as museums, sporting and entertainment
hunger relief and more.
venues, natural areas and so much more. It is a resourceful

We anticipate a gradual return of county revenues to pre-
by Embracing pandemic levels over the next five years. one-stop opportunity to explore the best of everything Palm
Beach County has to offer at: discover.pbcgov.org/Pages/
More job openings than unemployed. The county’s

Technology unemployment rate was reported at just 4.7% for August, Things-To-Do.aspx.
Nonprofit highlight: Junior League of Boca Raton.

well below national and state averages. There are more job
Congratulations to the Junior League of Boca Raton (JLBR)
openings than unemployed for the second consecutive month:
37,267 job openings vs. 35,320 unemployed people according on its 50th Anniversary! Since its inception in 1971, JLBR
By Joseph Abruzzo, Clerk of the to CareerSource Palm Beach County that offers services for has provided over a million hours of community service;
Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm both business and job seekers. Some of its services include and each year, donates $250,000 to community projects.
Beach County. Clerk Abruzzo serves career counseling, business coaching, training programs, and JLBR consists of over 600 members who are committed to
as the county’s protector of public employment assistance. promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women
records and public funds. He was For more information, visit careersourcepbc.com. and improving the community through the effective action
elected in November 2020 and sworn Lien Amnesty Program. A Code Enforcement Lien of trained volunteers.
into office on January 5th, 2021. Amnesty Program was recently approved by the Board for Some key projects of the Junior League of Boca Raton
Prior to his election, Clerk Abruzzo residential and nonresidential property owners located in include founding the Boca Raton Historical Society, restoring
served in the Florida Legislature for a unincorporated Palm Beach County. This is a terrific program Singing Pines, and founding the Junior League of Boca Raton
decade, serving in both the Florida House of Representatives providing property and lien holders with an opportunity to Diaper Bank. For more information, visit jlbr.org.
and the Florida Senate. He proudly served in the United have their entire outstanding lien balance forgiven. In addition If you require assistance, please contact our office at (561)
States Coast Guard Reserves as a Port Security Specialist to other requirements, the subject property must be in full 355-2204 and/or email me at: rweinroth@pbcgov.org.
from 2005 to 2013 and is the recipient of numerous awards,
medals and outstanding performance citations. Serving over 108,000 satisfied customers since 1976
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