Tax rate holding steady as values take a hit — The South Palm Beach Town Council has tentatively approved keeping the town’s property tax rate unchanged from last year — at $3.40 for each $1,000 of taxable value.
The council made that decision after Town Manager Jamie Titcomb reported the town was the only municipality in Palm Beach County to see its taxable property value drop this year — if only by 0.21%, or roughly a $1.4 million decrease to $639.5 million.
Titcomb credited the drop to “the cooling off” of the market for older condos in recent years, fueled in part by higher assessments needed to meet requirements that condo associations build up their reserves to fund future repairs.
On a related subject, Town Accountant Ron Bennett reported that the town had spent only 60% of its budget and the fiscal year was 75% complete. Titcomb said any surplus would be added to the Town Hall fund.
Letter carrier honored — Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mark Garrison announced that U.S. Postal Service employee Veronica Thompson had been named the recipient of the Star Resident Award. She received it for coming to the aid of a resident she found unresponsive in a car in June.
Garrison said Thompson not only called first responders to the scene but, upon seeing the woman had groceries in the back seat, arranged for them to be held in a nearby condo until she could return to claim them.
Mayor Bonnie Fischer also recognized Deputy Donna Korb on her 25th anniversary with PBSO.
CAAB appointment — Louis J. Urban was appointed to the Community Affairs Advisory Board.
Council plans road trip — In an unusual move, the entire five-person Town Council plans to attend the annual Florida League of Cities meeting in Orlando in August. Fischer will be the town’s voting delegate.
— Brian Biggane
Comments