Page 12 - Talk of Tequesta - March '24

Page 12, The Talk Of Tequesta

norThern noTes

Living Within Our Budget

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

L ike most l oca l requests are balanced The ultimate authority for approving the budget is Northern’s
governments, the Northern against funding to Board of Supervisors. The preliminary budget is reviewed
Pa lm Be ach Count y determine whether or with the Board in May. Once the new tax roll is received and
Improvement District not specific projects or reviewed, the Board approves the TRIM rates in June.
(Northern) must prepare requests remain in the TRIM stands for Truth in Millage and is the highest rate
and abide by an annual funding plan for the to assess a property. The property appraiser mails TRIM
budget. Unlike many upcoming year. notices to property owners in August each year. In August,
other local governments, Budgets are a public hearing is held for the Board to hear any public
Northern prepares a budget funded from either comments on the proposed budget. After comments are
for general expenses, such maintenance received and potentially addressed, the Board will approve
as administrative and assessments, reserve the budget. The final assessment rates are sent to the tax
overhead expenses, and funds, loans or a collector for inclusion on the Real Estate Tax Bill sent
for each unit of development within its jurisdiction. A combination of the to property owners in November. The new budget year
unit of development is a separate, distinct area formed above. Northern has begins on Oct. 1.
to provide specific services from Northern. These areas a policy to keep a We all feel the impact of rising prices. At Northern,
can be for individual housing developments, such as PGA minimum of 25 percent of the maintenance budget for both the staff and the Board work hard to ensure that our
National, BallenIsles or Abacoa. They can also be for an each unit of development in reserves. Reserves are in assessments cover the cost of maintaining our assets and
area that covers several developments, such as Horseshoe place for unexpected emergencies, disasters, and cost paying off any outstanding debt, while also keeping our
Acres, Steeplechase, Arbor Parc and Woodbine. Each increases more than budgeted. Any reserves over the residents and property owners in mind. We achieve this
unit of development is unique since their needs can be minimum can be used to fund future projects or offset by using reserves and projecting our capital needs for
quite different. Currently, there are 47 active units of assessment increases. Assessment increases are reviewed, the next five years. This approach helps us to maintain
development with budgets, excluding the general fund. and management determines if it is appropriate to use stable assessments, with increases only when necessary
Northern’s primary purpose is to provide stormwater reserves or loans to finance larger capital projects or and decreases when practical. You can find our budget
control services to its area. However, in some areas, one-time expenses to limit the rise in the assessment on our website, www.npbcid.org. We hope that you find
Northern is also responsible for road, preserve, trail and rate. Sometimes, long-term debt is paid off, or one-time it helpful and informative.
gate maintenance. projects are completed, and assessment rates can lower NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system is
Northern’s fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. for the upcoming year. not a garbage disposal, please don’t treat it like one.
30. Each year, starting in January, the budget process begins Once a preliminary budget is agreed upon by internal Encourage all residents to take responsibility and to not
for the new fiscal year. Staff and department heads submit staff, the proposed budget is sent to homeowner and dump chemicals, fertilizer, paint, oil, etc., in inlets or
their budgeted requests for projects, services and equipment property owner associations within Northern’s jurisdiction pipes. Discourage sweeping of lawn clippings and dirt
for the upcoming year to the budget manager. The budget to begin discussions on the upcoming year’s budget. into street drains and disposing of lawn clippings and
manager compiles the information and produces a draft Budgets are reviewed with association representatives other debris (wood, concrete blocks, Christmas trees, etc.)
budget for review by Northern management. During this time, to fully communicate the plan for the upcoming year. directly into retention lakes. Keep drainage facilities clear
Modifications to the proposed budget will be reviewed of vegetation, trash, improperly and illegally discarded
and incorporated when possible. appliances, shopping carts, tires, cars, garbage bags, etc.

Sunday, March 10th

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