Page 6 - The Shores of Jupiter - November '22

Page 6, The Shores
Jupiter Community High School Marching Band

Wins At Boca Cavalcade Competition

Congratulations to the Jupiter Community High School, their own event, the Festival of Bands, on Nov. 5.
Spirit of Jupiter Marching Band, for taking First Place in This is a premier marching band event held here in
Class 3a at the Boca Cavalcade event held Sept. 24. Jupiter. Visit the website to learn more: https://www.
Jupiter Community High School will be hosting jupiterfestivalofbands.org/.

Town Of Jupiter News

By Jim Kuretski, Mayor, There are 16,243 residential units that have an annual Ultimately, the Town Council voted four to one to
Town of Jupiter 3 percent “Save Our Homes” taxable property valuation maintain a flat ad valorem tax rate that achieved a 13.1
The high inflation rate increases on CAP. Accordingly, I advocated for an percent increase in total ad valorem tax revenues.
since 2021 has created offsetting 3 percent reduction in the Town’s tax rate. The Town should have lowered its ad valorem tax rate,
significant financial Every residential and commercial property owner in the to do its part to limit governmental cost increase burdens
hardships to residents Town would have benefitted by that. to its residents and local businesses, particularly at this
and businesses. The cost During the Sept. 22 final public hearing on the Fiscal time with such unprecedented financially challenging
of housing in Jupiter Year 2023 budget, I identified revenue streams that conditions. I am not alone in my public service approach,
and south Florida, has were underestimated in the budget plan and proposed as more local governments in Palm Beach County opted
been skyrocketing, with eliminating a vacant town staff position to enable the to lower their ad valorem tax rates this year, than I recall
property resales occurring Town’s ad valorem rate to be reduced. ever happening before.
in a seller’s market. This
month’s news report provides insights about Town efforts
to (1) have affordable housing units in Jupiter and (2) limit
cost increases in governmental revenues/taxes to do its
part in controlling the overall costs of living in Jupiter.
Affordable Housing
Over the past two decades, we have continued to
implement infrastructure improvements in older charter
neighborhoods in Jupiter that have more affordable
housing costs, in efforts to improve the desirability of
living there.
We had 1,589 affordable housing units constructed
through Abacoa DRI obligations. The mandated
affordability requirements expired after five years. The
five-year period was the governmental standard for
affordable housing units at the time of Abacoa’s master
plan approval.
We had longer term success with Barcelona, a 351-unit
rental community constructed three years ago. Seventy-five
workforce housing units were constructed, with mandated
affordability requirements, valid for 30 to 50 years.
The Town has collected $2.5 million from developers
for inclusionary housing for commercial and industrial
projects. The Town Council is responsible to decide how
to invest these funds to create future affordable housing
opportunities in Jupiter.
Since the Town is nearing buildout of its vacant
residential properties, future opportunities to create
affordable housing units within Jupiter will be increasingly
more challenging.
Governmental Fiscal Accountability
The Town was fortunate to have its overall real estate
tax base increase by 13.1 percent, mostly attributable to
property resales that occurred last year. Property resale
events resulted in very significant increases in the taxable
property valuations for those properties.

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