Page 21 - Boca Exposure - October '23

Boca Exposure, Page 21
Council Corner: Getting Involved in Your Community!

By Fran Nachlas, Boca *What’s important to me and my family? City of Boca Raton, FL Boards & Commissions
Raton City Council *How much time do I have to give? Applications for Appointment can be found at www.myboca.
Member/CRA Vice Chair Over the years that I was working as a registered nurse, I asked us under the Government Boards and Committees tabs.
When I was growing myself these questions often. The desire to help others has always Remember, serving on one of these boards is about being
up, my parents were always lived in me, and I found myself volunteering and supporting many informed, active and involved, so it is important to attend
volunteering – at our schools, organizations in our area, sometimes by donations but more often meetings of the board or boards in which you are interested
for my Girl Scout troop, for with my time as I like to be hands-on. Ultimately, this passion to prior to seeking appointment to make sure it is the right fit.
all of our athletic events, at the actively give back has led me to be in the position I am in today, So whether you’re a (and these are just a few!) current
hospital, raising funds for local as one of your Boca Raton City Council Members – a position I or retired CEO, CFO, architect, librarian, pilot, attorney,
charities and causes – all while am humbled and honored to hold. cyclist, engineer, business owner, financial planner, have
running their own business and The City of Boca Raton has ways for you to get involved and a passion for the environment, history, our beautiful
raising a family. They instilled provide a valuable service by serving on one of our Advisory beaches and stretch of ocean, or simply a concerned
in me the importance of “giving back,” whether by talent, time Boards and Committees. The list includes: Airport Authority, resident with time and talent to share, please consider
or treasure. Boca Raton Housing Authority, Citizens’ Oversight Committee, checking out the “Current Board Vacancies” we have
And our family was, and is not, unique. There are literally Citizens’ Pedestrian & Bikeway Advisory Board, Civil Service on the City of Boca Raton’s website. Our volunteers are
thousands of nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County. Board, Community Advisory Panel, Community Appearance an essential part of our city, and I’d like to express my
While looking at the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Board, Environmental Advisory Board, Executive Employees’ gratitude for your willingness to serve. To quote tennis
list of nonprofit organizations, I counted over 25 that I have Retirement Plan Board, Financial Advisory Board, General icon Arthur Ashe, “Start where you are. Use what you
contributed to, or volunteered for, just on their list alone. This Employees’ Pension Board, Historic Preservation Board, Library have. Do what you can.”
got me thinking about a question I get asked frequently: “How Board, Marine Advisory Board, Parks & Recreation Board, I hope this information is helpful, and as always please
do I get involved and find somewhere to volunteer?” It’s easy if Permitting and Construction Review Board, Planning & Zoning reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I love to
you start with three simple questions: Board, Police & Firefighters’ Retirement System Board, Special hear from you! You can reach me at fnachlas@myboca.
*What am I passionate about? Magistrate and, finally, the Sustainability Advisory Board. us or (561) 221-7902.
Tax Talk

Dear Friends: Step 4. Annual Taxes new process to regularly post outstanding or uncashed
Did you know that new Next, non-ad valorem assessments are added and checks on the tax collector’s website so that clients can
election laws mandate that determined by the levying authority using a unit measure visit the website 24/7 to see if they potentially have any
voters must renew their to calculate the cost of services. For example, Solid Waste unclaimed funds with our office. This new process lists
mail ballot requests every Authority fees are based on the type of property producing roughly 2,300 to 3,000 outstanding checks on the website
General Election cycle? the waste. In 2022, Fred’s fee was $200, which is added at any given time, which negates the need to mail notices
That means, any Vote- to $3,161.94 totaling his annual total property taxes at to individuals thus reducing our monthly postage costs
By-Mail ballot requests $3,361.94. by more than $1,300!
made prior to the Nov. In Fiscal Year 2021/22, our office collected To find out if you may have unclaimed funds with our
8, 2022 General Election $4,476,481,220 in property taxes and distributed those office, visit https://www.pbctax.com/unclaimed-funds/.
have expired; therefore, monies to the local taxing authorities to provide essential Congratulations to my Chief Financial Officer,
you must complete a new services to the residents of Palm Beach County. Carmen C. Richardson, and her innovation and dedicated
Vote-By-Mail ballot request for the 2024 elections. My team for the tremendous work they do to ensure we are
fellow Palm Beach County Constitutional Officer, Wendy Ready To Renew … Here’s fiscally responsible and delivering exceptional service to
Sartory Link, Supervisor of Elections, has produced a our clients.
very informative video that details what you need to What To Do
know about requesting a Vote-By-Mail ballot. I encourage
you to visit https://youtu.be/ZyNtsgJ-nyo to watch this You’ve received the notice in the mail that it’s time to
important video and then submit your Vote-By-Mail ballot renew your driver’s license, what now? If your license is
request online at www.VotePalmBeach.gov or by calling REAL ID compliant (look for the gold star in the upper
Wendy’s office at (561) 656-6208. right corner), and you have not used your one-time online
The 2024 election cycle will be here before you know convenience renewal, and you have no stops, holds or
it, so now is the time to request your Vote-By-Mail ballot! other violations on your license, then an online renewal
Anne M. Gannon, is your easiest and fastest option. Visit www.pbctax.com/
Constitutional Tax Collector, driver-license to renew!
Serving Palm Beach County If you are not REAL ID compliant or have a stop,
hold or violation on your driver’s license, you will need
How Your Taxes Are to make a reservation and visit one of our service centers.
Reservations fill up quickly so don’t delay! Visit www.
Calculated pbctax.com/reservations to make reservations.
Before you visit, perform a free driver’s license
Have you ever wondered how your property taxes are checkup at www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/ to
calculated? It can be a complicated process, but we are see if you have any stops, holds or violations. Clearances
here to help make it simple! can be processed at our office if you bring the required
Step 1. Assessment documentation. If English is not your first language, you Left to right: Constitutional Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon
Let’s look at an example – Fred lives in a single-family have the option of bringing a person with you to your and Chief Financial Officer Carmen C. Richardson
home in West Palm Beach. His home is assessed by the scheduled reservation to assist you with translating.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser at $200,000. Please note, while they may assist with translation, they
Step 2. Exemption may not assist while you take any required tests, such
Fred has a homestead exemption which reduces the as the driver’s license written exam. State regulations
taxable value of his home by $50,000, resulting in a require that these tests only be completed by the applicant.
total taxable value of $150,000. Remember, a homestead
exemption limits the tax rate increase to 3 percent per
year.
Step 3. Ad Valorem Taxes
The $150,000 taxable value is multiplied by the
millage rate set by each ad valorem taxing authority for
properties within their boundaries. Since Fred lives in
West Palm Beach, the millage rate in 2022 was 21.0796
for every $1,000 of taxable value. His $150,000 taxable
value is then divided by $1,000, which equals 150 and
then multiplied by the 21.0796 millage rate, resulting in
Fred’s Ad Valorem taxes total of $3,161.94. Finance Team Honored With

Awards

I am especially proud of my Finance and Budget
team for being awarded the Certificate of Merit for Audit
by the Florida Tax Collectors Association. This award
recognizes our office’s achievement for a 2021/22 audit,
clear of any findings – in other words, a perfect audit!
In addition, the team was recently awarded the 2023
Legacy Award for Financial Operations by the Florida
Tax Collector’s Association. This award recognizes the
innovation and automation the team developed for a