Page 6 - Abacoa Community News - June '22
P. 6
Page 6, Abacoa
Palm Beach
County Property
Greenways & Dry Detention Areas
Appraiser The Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (The District):
Dear Taxpayer: • Manages 260 acres of upland preserve throughout Abacoa, also called the
Summertime is a busy Abacoa Greenway, which is designated for the preservation, restoration,
time for my office. and enhancement of environmental systems.
On July 1, my office
submits a preliminary tax • Manages approximately 100 acres of dry detention areas within Abacoa. These areas are for the temporary
roll to Florida’s Department retention of water during storm events. These areas are contiguous and serve as a critical corridor for
of Revenue, the agency that wildlife connecting the many upland preserve areas throughout Abacoa. The Greenway and dry detention
oversees the operations of areas share stormwater management, wildlife, and ecosystem functions.
all property appraisers in the
state. Since the Greenway and dry detention areas are generally interconnected, they are home to hundreds of
On Aug. 18, my office state-protected gopher tortoises. Many of our management strategies and objectives are driven by the
will mail the Notice of conservation of our gopher tortoise populations.
Proposed Taxes to all property owners, detailing the assessed
and taxable values of your property, as well as the tax rates
proposed by taxing authorities. In Florida, the gopher tortoise and its burrows, including 25 feet beyond the
Florida law requires my office to value property based on burrow, are protected under Florida law, Chapter 68A-27. Therefore, any land
the status of the market as of Jan. 1. We use state-of-the-art clearing near a gopher tortoise or its burrow is illegal unless the landowner
technology to continuously process property data from local obtains a special permit. To avoid any harm or destruction to gopher tortoises
and industry sources and from field inspections performed
by our highly-trained appraisal experts. or their burrows, residents should leave the Greenway and dry detention
As always, I welcome your comments and questions habitats unaltered and in a natural state.
regarding your property value and exemption amounts.
Now is a good time to check the mailing address
associated with your property at pbcgov.org/PAPA. Simply The following are violations and are prohibited in
search your property and confirm that your mailing address
is correct. If it needs an update, just click the “Change of Greenways & dry detention areas:
Address” button under the “Owner Information” section.
In this month’s newsletter, there is a reminder that • Residents' land clearing or removal of vegetation
hurricane season is upon us and a memo to those residents • Dumping debris, trash, landscape vegetation, or any other refuse
who have not yet applied for a homestead exemption on their • Illegal disposal of vegetative debris, garbage, and waste
permanent residence in Palm Beach County. Enjoy reading
and stay safe. The above could result in code violations from The District
Respectfully, and The Town of Jupiter.
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS,
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Did You Know?
We Value What You Value
Hurricane Season Begins • If a landscape contractor has committed a violation as part of a Image here
homeowner’s contracted landscape maintenance activities, the
June kicks off hurricane season, which runs through homeowner could ultimately be held responsible.
Nov. 30. There are provisions in Florida law that pertain • Illegal dumping in dry detention areas could ultimately affect the
to your property tax assessment if your home has suffered capabilities of the designed stormwater system and could result
catastrophic damage by a hurricane. in flooding roads or homes.
If your home suffers hurricane damage, our office
will work with you through the assessment process. Image here
Information that would be helpful to us includes insurance By Lucas Schaffer, Environmental Tech
claims, photographs, and repair estimates and invoices. Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
More information is on our website or found by contacting
(561) 355-3230 or PAHurricaneDamage@pbcgov.org.
As you plan for the season ahead, Palm Beach County
Emergency Management offers essential tips on hurricane
preparedness in their Hurricane Planning Guide (PDF).
E Filing For Homestead
Exemption And Portability
With the homestead exemption E file module, you
can E file the same day you close on a new home, even
without the deed. Simultaneously, you can E file for
portability if moving within the state of Florida and filing
for a homestead exemption.
A homestead exemption can reduce the assessed value
of your property, thereby reducing the amount of property
tax you pay. In addition, a homestead exemption limits
any increase to your assessed value to a maximum of
3 percent each year or the amount of the change in the
consumer price index, whichever is lower. Portability
transfers all or a significant portion of your cap savings,
up to $500,000, from a home with a homestead exemption
to a new home within the state of Florida that qualifies
for a homestead exemption.
Our Exemption Services Department administers all
exemptions and portability applications and is available
to answer your questions. Contact them at myexemption@
pbcgov.org or (561) 355-2866.
Office Closed In Honor Of
Juneteenth
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office
(including all of our service centers) will be closed in honor of
Juneteenth, observed Monday, June 20. Juneteenth National
Independence Day commemorates the emancipation of
enslaved African-Americans in the United States.