Page 9 - Boca Exposure - July '24

Boca Exposure, Page 9
From The Desk Of Commissioner

Marci Woodward: A Message From Marci

Commissioner Woodward, University of South Carolina-Aiken with a Bachelor’s Lake Worth Lagoon- $270,500 to restore seagrasses,
a 20-year resident of Boca Degree in Fine Arts. mangroves and oysters to improve and support the health of
Raton, was elected in Palm Beach County requested state funding for several the water body.
November 2022 as Palm projects and programs in our community and secured Peanut Island Historic Restoration- $1 million for
Beach County District nearly $6 million for the following: revitalizing Peanut Island’s legacy of eco-tourism by
4 Commissioner. She West Palm Beach Downtown Signalization- $2.75 renovating the now vacant historic Coast Guard facilities
serves on the following million for the first phase of signalization enhancements and JFK fallout bunker on the island.
board of directors as a on Okeechobee Blvd. to address immediate congestion Restore Re-Entry Program- $500,000 to assist with
representative of the county issues, improve traffic flow within downtown and facilitating the reintegration of re-entry participants in Palm
commission: Palm Beach explore advancements in traffic management capabilities, Beach County by connecting them with services designed to
Transportation Planning including transit signal priorities. reduce recidivism.
Agency; South Florida Central Palm Beach County Historic Infrastructure- Other funding for our area includes:
Regional Transportation Authority (TriRail); Treasure $1 million to help reduce storm water runoff and pollutant The Center for Arts & Innovation- $1 million for design
Coast Regional Planning Council; CareerSource Palm loading into local water systems by enhancing existing phase II of the 100,000 sq. ft. center, featuring a main theater,
Beach County; Palm Beach Cultural Council, and Value roadway infrastructure in the central historic region of intimate spaces and an amphitheater.
Adjustment Board. Ms. Woodward graduated from the Palm Beach County. Additionally, many community organizations,
education institutions, nonprofits and municipalities
in Palm Beach County received state funding for local
projects and programs.
Our 38
th

Some funded projects in my South County District
Ann
Annual include North and Central Boca Raton Shore Protection,
ual
HabCenter Boca Raton Mental Health and STEM program,
Highland Beach Lift Station Rehabilitation and Hurricane
Hardening at the Arc of South Palm Beach County.
Summer Sale
Summer Sale Beach annexation study is in the early stages. County and
Boynton Beach Annexation Study Update. The Boynton
city staff have met to discuss the process, with a focus on
areas where the city already provides water or has existing
annexation agreements.
To keep residents informed, the city plans to launch a
website with project details and maps in July. Public meetings
will likely be held after the feasibility study is complete,
which could take up to a year. To date, a formal annexation
request has not been filed with the county.
Palmetto Park Rd. Bridge Project. Great news! The
Palmetto Park Rd. Bridge is nearly finished and all lanes of
traffic are open!
Following successful inspections by the Florida
Department of Transportation and Palm Beach County
staff, the contractor is putting the final touches on the
project. They’re tackling minor punch list items before final
approval and closure. Temporary lane markings are in place,
with permanent striping scheduled for a future date. Staff is
coordinating the scheduling details.
Nonprofit Spotlight. The Palm Beach County Food Bank,
a dedicated local nonprofit, tackles hunger with a powerful
combo, collaboration and diverse programs.
They partner with nearly 200 agencies, offering food,
resources and support through initiatives like Pop-Up
Farmer’s Markets and Childhood Hunger programs. Founded
in 2009, they’ve grown from a local effort to a county-wide
leader, proving that together, we can nourish our neighbors
and build a stronger community.
bread-breaking ceremony for their long-awaited Community

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Food Bank’s

Kitchen Expansion Project. Beyond its impressive capacity
to provide 10,000 additional hot, nutritious meals each
Lenses on 1 Pair
st

day, the new state-of-the-art facility offers even more. It
and provide a platform for small businesses to utilize the
will empower the community through culinary classes

kitchen’s resources.
Lenses on 2 Pair
nd
For more information, visit www.pbcfoodbank.org.

Did you Know?
*Except Cartier & Maui Jim Did you know property taxes can rise even with stable
home values?
Rx or Non-Rx Lenses on 3 or More Florida limits how much your property taxes can increase
rd
Expires 08/21/24 Expires 08/21/24 each year. This is a good thing, especially when home prices
are rising quickly. But here’s a twist, even if your home’s
value stays the same, your property taxes might still go up a
KNOWN FOR OUR SELECTION • REMEMBERED FOR OUR SERVICE little bit.
The limit is based on a different value than your home’s
selling price. This “assessed value” can keep increasing
slightly each year until it catches up to your home’s market
value. So, in a cooling market, your taxes might inch up a
Never bit even if your home isn’t worth more.
Boring There are two caps to remember:
Homestead properties are primary residences with a special
exemption. Their assessed value can only go up by 3 percent
each year, or the change in inflation (whichever is lower).
Non-homestead properties include vacation homes, rental
properties, and commercial buildings. Their assessed value
is capped at a higher rate of 10% each year.
Property tax caps are helpful, but they can also lead to small
tax increases even when home values aren’t rising. This is because
the assessed value, which determines your taxes, can still go up
slightly each year until it catches up to the market value.
THE SHOPS AT BOCA CENTER ON MILITARY TRAIL | 561-394-5551 | GROVEOPTICIANS.COM For more information, visit pbcpao.gov.
If you require assistance, please contact our office at (561)
355-2204 or email Mwoodward@pbcgov.org.