Page 33 - Southern Exposure - March '24

Southern Exposure, Page 33

loCal government from page 32

I encourage you to review our results in this Report To Our
Citizens For Fiscal Year 2022/23 by visiting www.pbctax.
com/annual-report where you can review the report online
or request a copy be mailed to you.
Great Day At The Jubilee!

A picture-perfect day brought out the crowd for the Town
of Jupiter’s largest hometown celebration, the Jupiter Jubilee.
Tax collector’s office employees were available to answer
questions and distribute informational materials. This event
is always a great opportunity to visit with our neighbors in
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth for Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
the north Palm Beach County area.
information about the services we provide and to share their
positive interactions with our offices! Dear Taxpayer: If you already have a homestead exemption on your
We look forward to taking part in these community O ne of the mos t property, you do NOT need to reapply. There are several
events and visiting underrated aspects of the additional property tax exemptions, including those for
with our clients. If homestead exemption is widows/widowers, veterans and those with disabilities.
you missed us at that it doesn’t just reduce For more information, visit pbcpao.gov or call Exemption
the Jubilee, look the taxable assessment of Services at (561) 355-2866.
for our booth at your home, it also caps its In this month’s newsletter, a reminder to all business
these upcoming annual valuation. The Save owners in Palm Beach County about filing for a Tangible
community events: Our Homes cap limits any Personal Property Tax Return for 2024 and my office’s
• Palm Beach increase to the assessed annual college scholarship application process is now
Pride, March 23 to value of a homestead open. Enjoy reading and enjoy your spring.
24 at Bryant Park exempt property to a Respectfully,
in Downtown Lake maximum of 3 percent each year or the change in the Dorothy Jacks, CFA, FIAAO, AAS,
Worth Beach consumer price index (CPI), whichever is lower. Over Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
• Black Gold Jubilee, April 13 at Torrey Island Campground time, the cap can provide substantial tax bill savings.
in Belle Glade. For 2024, the maximum increase will be 3 percent, as Business Tangible
the change in CPI increased 3.4 percent from December
2022 to December 2023. This increase in CPI reflects Personal Property
continued but slowing inflation over the past year across
dozens of consumer categories including shelter, food, Tangible personal property is equipment used in a
transportation and energy. business and includes furniture, fixtures, machinery, tools,
While the change in the CPI follows many markets, appliances, signs, leasehold improvements, supplies,
Florida law requires my office to value property based leased equipment and other assets. It is taxed at the same
on the status of the real estate market. My office will rate as real property.
determine a total market value for every home as of Jan. 1, Florida allows an exemption up to $25,000 in value
taking into consideration the price fluctuations reflected in for tangible personal property assets used by a business.
the sales of residential properties. But if your property is You must file an initial Tangible Personal Property Tax
homesteaded, the taxable assessed value will not increase
more than 3 percent. Local Government on page 34

Paid Advertisement
SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH CARE

Surgeon stresses successful procedures go well

beyond the operating room.

By Valerie Staggs more to do with making the surgery expe- of surgical equip-
rience more comfortable for patients and ment. Equipment
Vivek Patel, MD, has been in and out their families. One of the biggest concerns is moved from op-
of operating rooms for over 15 years. A families have when their loved one is un- erating rooms to
board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon dergoing surgery is understanding what to the sterile process-
specializing in minimally invasive valve expect before surgery and being able to get ing department via
and open heart surgery, Patel performs updates on their loved one during the sur- dedicated elevators
cutting-edge procedures that treat com- gery. In a 2020-21 survey commissioned for clean instru-
mon heart conditions such as faulty heart by the American Board of Internal Med- ments and those
valves and clogged arteries.
icine Foundation, 600 physicians were requiring steril- Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute at Jupiter Medical Center.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon, Patel is keen- asked what the biggest challenge in ensur- ization. Jupiter
ly aware of his patients’ trust in him and ing patient trust is. Poor communication Medical Center has implemented several
his weighty responsibility to ensure their was cited as number one. different pathways for sterilization to max-
well-being while in his care. This care, Pa- Health care providers like Jupiter Medical imize efficiency, getting instruments back
tel is quick to point out, goes well beyond Center are making strides to make com- in surgeons’ hands quickly and seamlessly.
what happens in the operating room.
munication a priority. At the hospital’s The operating rooms are also designed for
“I think we need to look at the whole new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Insti- efficiency. Patel explains that operating
process, not just for patients, but for tute, families are kept up to date through- rooms can often get crowded, making a
their families too,” says Patel. He cites out their loved one’s surgery via patient surgeon’s job challenging. The operating
the new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical tracking monitors in the waiting rooms. rooms at the new surgical institute are er-
Institute at Jupiter Medical Center as an Families now have real-time updates on gonomically designed, allowing for ease
example of how surgical facilities are now their loved ones throughout their surgery, of use and efficiency during surgery. Five
being designed with features that give pa- minimizing the anxiety of waiting for robotic operating systems and two hybrid
tients and families peace of mind while news about their loved ones. operating rooms provide state-of-the-art
giving surgeons the technology they need Many of the patient benefits Patel is ex- technology, enabling surgeons to offer the
to ensure success. most cutting-edge surgical options to their
cited about happen behind the scenes at
“I have never worked in a better equipped the surgical institute. Efficiency in a surgi- patients, oftentimes with shorter recovery Vivek Patel, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
times.
and integrated facility that vastly benefits cal setting is vitally important in ensuring
patients,” says Patel of the new surgical in- that surgeons can operate effectively while “All these changes will affect how health
stitute, which opened in December. ensuring the safety of patients. “A lot of care is delivered in Palm Beach Coun- For more information about the
thoughtful design went into the surgical ty,” says Patel. “We are centered on the Surgical Institute please visit
The benefits he refers to have less to do institute,” explains Patel. One area of en- patient. That’s the way medicine should
with the surgical instruments he uses and jupitermed.com.
hanced efficiency relates to the sterilization be practiced.”
Paid Advertisement