Page 10 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - August '24

Page 10, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Commissioner’s Update

Making Dollars And Cents To further understand your
tax bill, you can visit the
Of Your Tax Bill property appraiser’s website
at https://pbcpao.gov/index.
By Vice Mayor Maria G. htm. By clicking on the tax
Marino link (property tax detail), you
It’s that time of year will see a detailed breakdown
when the Board of County of the taxes collected from
Commissioners begins the various districts that provide
budgeting process for Fiscal services to residents. For
Year (FY) 2025 and sets the instance, using the example
millage rate for Palm Beach at right of a homesteaded
County. The current county house with the taxable value
millage rate is 4.5, which of $351,123 ($376,123 for
represents the amount of school district items) and the
tax payable per dollar of the millage rate of 4.5, you will
assessed value of a property. A mill is derived from the Latin be paying $4.5 per $1,000,
word “millesimum,” meaning thousandth. In property tax totaling $1,580.05.
terms, 1 mill equals $1 in property tax levied per $1,000 of With our example, there
a property’s assessed value. are 13 taxing districts under
ad valorem taxes for this
homesteaded property in
It’s The Law! Palm Beach Gardens. Each
district sets its own millage
rate, and properties in different
Did You Know That, In areas of the county will have
Florida… a varying number of districts
depending on whether they
are in a municipality or
By Adam S. Gumson, unincorporated areas. Some
Esq. areas, such as Jupiter or Juno,
There are many free may have an additional line item for fire/rescue services but generally, the county provides many essential services
ways to avoid having to because those services are provided by the county instead that benefit all residents. These services include managing
go through an expensive of the municipality. four airports, a water utilities department, road and bridge
probate proceeding, Non-ad valorem assessments are not based on property maintenance, stormwater management, environmental
such as passing property values but are fixed fees per household or business. resources and a parks and recreation department overseeing
or financial accounts via Understanding your tax bill is important because it helps over 110 parks in both municipal and unincorporated areas.
joint ownership or via you know which authority sets the millage and who has So, the next time you receive your tax bill, remember
designated beneficiary jurisdiction over various services. For example, school- that I am here to be a steward of your tax dollars and
forms. You can also related questions should be directed to the school board, while a watchdog to ensure that the funds collected are used
title assets in a living library-related questions should go to the library authority. efficiently and effectively.
revocable trust such that no court involvement is I often get asked why residents in a municipality still pay
necessary. taxes to the county. The answer varies slightly by municipality,
Florida’s homestead laws impact how the primary
residence is distributed at a decedent’s death. If a Florida
resident dies with a surviving spouse and no minor
children, the surviving spouse may inherit the entire
homestead, even if the decedent had children from a
previous marriage. However, if the decedent had minor
children at the time of his/her death, then the children
are constitutionally entitled to a share of the residence.
Special needs trusts (SNT) are designed to provide
for a physically or mentally disabled beneficiary in
such a way that the trust assets are not placed in that
beneficiary’s name. Therefore, such assets do not count
as that beneficiary’s assets for the purposes of Medicaid
eligibility. The SNT allows the trust assets and any
income from such assets to improve the beneficiary’s
quality of life by paying for some of his/her expenses
which are not covered by Medicaid (such as personal
grooming, entertainment, technology like computers and
TVs, massages and transportation).
Jupiter Law Center is a private neighborhood law
firm located in the RiverPlace Professional Center, 1003
W. Indiantown Road, Suite 210, Jupiter, Fla., (561) 744
- 4600, jupiterlawcenter.com. The firm provides peace of
mind by solving problems with integrity and compassion
in the areas of estate and business planning, probate,
guardianship and trust administration, probate and
guardianship for personal injury firms, family law and
real estate.

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Palm Beach County and is a privately
owned and managed company.
Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212
To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com