A Message from Marci
Each year, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners undertakes the important responsibility of adopting the budget presented by the County Administrator while remaining mindful of the impact on taxpayers.
As part of this process, the Board holds two public budget hearings in September. These hearings give residents two opportunities to hear what is being proposed, provide input, and ask questions before the County’s budget and property tax rates are finalized.
For Fiscal Year 2027, the Countywide millage rate remained unchanged at 4.5000 mills. A millage rate is the rate used to calculate the property taxes that help fund County services. One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value.
In addition to the Countywide millage rate, there are separate tax rates that apply only to certain properties depending on where they are located and which services they receive. For example, the Library District millage rate is 0.5491 mills. This rate supports the Palm Beach County Library District and is paid by property owners within that taxing district, not by every property owner in Palm Beach County. Properties in cities with a library system would only pay if their city taxes.
The Fire Rescue MSTU millage rate is 3.4581 mills and similarly applies to properties within the areas served by the County’s Fire Rescue taxing district.
Finally, the Countywide voted debt millage rate is 0.0210 mills. This is separate from the Countywide operating millage rate and is used to meet debt obligations that were previously approved by Palm Beach County voters.
The Board also adopted a Countywide Funds budget of $8,263,984,243. Approximately $2.27 billion of that budget comes from property taxes, which fund the Sheriff, all Constitutional Officers, Fire Rescue, Roads & Bridges, etc. It is important to note that the County budget includes many different funds and revenue sources dedicated to specific purposes. Airports and Water Utilities are both examples of "enterprise funds" that are paid by fees generated by those departments.
Throughout this year’s budget process, we also worked to identify savings and reduced our budget by approximately $35 million. I want to sincerely thank our County Administrator, Joseph Abruzzo, The Office of Financial Management and Budget, and County staff for their hard work, careful review to find savings while continuing to provide the services our residents expect and deserve.
Ultimately, the County budget is about much more than numbers. It helps pay for the services we use every day, from public safety, roads and infrastructure to parks, libraries, and many other essential County services.
As your County Commissioner, I believe residents deserve to understand where their tax dollars go and how they are being spent. My goal is to make this process as transparent and understandable as possible while ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our growing community and remain responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s budget process, and especially to our County staff for the many hours of work that went into developing and refining this budget. Your participation and input help us make better decisions for Palm Beach County.
If you would like to review the full budget, please follow this link: https://discover.pbcgov.org/ofmb/budget/pages/annual-budget-2027.aspx
Homeless Coalition Mayors’ Ball
What an honor it was to host the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County’s 2026 Mayors’ Ball: Boots & Bourbon!
Nearly 500 guests came together for an incredible evening that raised almost $450,000 (over 100k more than last year!) to support the Coalition’s work addressing homelessness throughout Palm Beach County.
The evening brought together mayors, elected officials, community leaders, partners, and supporters from across our county with a shared purpose: helping ensure that local individuals and families have access to safe, stable housing and the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
A heartfelt thank you to the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, especially CEO Alexandria Ayala-Long and Board President Melissa McKinlay, as well as the dedicated sponsors, partners, volunteers, and supporters who made this special evening possible.
Thank you as well to this year’s Mayors’ Ball Event Chairs, Colonel Eric and Marybel Coleman, and Todd and Rachael Bonlarron, for their leadership and commitment to making Boots & Bourbon such a success.
We were honored to welcome mayors from communities throughout Palm Beach County who joined us in showing their support, including Steve Wilson, Andy Thomson, Christy Maasbach, Betty Resch, Karen Lythgoe, Lisa Interlandi, Dana Middleton, Jeff Hmara, Joe Kyles, Molly Young, Michael Napoleone, JohnPaul O’Connor, and Keith James.
I’m also grateful to my fellow County Commissioners Maria Marino, Gregg Weiss, Joel Flores, Maria Sachs, and Bobby Powell Jr. for joining me for such a fun and meaningful evening.
Addressing homelessness requires all of us working together. The Mayors’ Ball is a wonderful example of what can happen when our community comes together around that shared responsibility.
Thank you to everyone who made Boots & Bourbon an unforgettable evening and, most importantly, for continuing to support the important work being done to help our neighbors throughout Palm Beach County.
District 4 Improvements
A roadway improvement project is moving forward along SW 23rd Avenue from Congress Avenue to U.S. 1 in Boynton Beach. Palm Beach County will invest approximately $674,000 to mill and resurface the roadway, providing a smoother and improved driving surface for residents and motorists traveling through the area.
The project includes approximately $618,000 for milling and resurfacing work, along with an additional $56,000 for roadway striping and pavement markings. The improvements are part of the County’s ongoing asphalt milling and resurfacing program, which helps maintain and improve roadways throughout Palm Beach County.
Election Dates and Deadlines
Election season is coming up, and I want everyone to be aware of some deadlines. Voting is important, and it’s a great way to make your voice heard! Please take a moment to review the dates below and make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines.
• Deadline to register to vote – Monday, October 5, 2026
• Early Voting – Monday, October 19, through Sunday, November 1, from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm
• Deadline to request that a Vote-by-Mail ballot be mailed to you – Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:00 pm
• Election Day – Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
• Deadline to return your Vote-by-Mail ballot – Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 7:00 pm to Supervisor of Elections Main Office or at 5:00 pm to a Branch Office or Secure Ballot Intake Station
For more information, visit https://www.votepalmbeach.gov/
Nonprofit Spotlight
This month I’m pleased to highlight The Studio at Mizner Park and its contribution to the cultural life of our community.
Located in the heart of Mizner Park, The Studio is a nonprofit performing arts venue that presents theater, music, comedy, and community programs throughout the year.
The Studio includes a 335-seat black box theater, a 4,500-square-foot event space, and a gallery. These spaces provide opportunities for residents to experience the arts, attend community events, and gather together in Downtown Boca Raton.
The Studio operates under the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community through the arts.
Its work is an important part of Palm Beach County’s cultural offerings and provides residents and visitors with opportunities to engage with a variety of performances and programs.
I recently had the opportunity to attend an event at The Studio at Mizner Park as part of Boca Regional Chamber’s Festival Days. Boca Chamber Festival Days was born in 1977, and 2026 marks its 49th edition, nearly five uninterrupted decades connecting the local business community to nonprofit causes across the region.
For more information, visit https://thestudioatmiznerpark.org/
If you require assistance, please contact our office at 561-355-2204 or email [email protected].
