Category

Council approves new tax rate for 2019-2020

The governing board of Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County on Thursday approved a 2019-2020 millage rate of .6497 – a 1.47% increase from last year’s rate of .6403.

The increase is necessary because of a decrease in the state’s reimbursement rate for Healthy Start (maternal health) services. The new rate also will help the Council:

  • Expand access to mental/behavioral health services
  • Implement new literacy programs to ensure more young children are ready for kindergarten
  • Increase access to mentoring programs to reduce the number of youth on the wait list
  • Bolster investments in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) opportunities for youth in summer camps and afterschool programs

“Palm Beach County is a strong, resilient and collaborative community, but there always are opportunities to do even more for our children,” says Lisa Williams-Taylor, CEO. “We believe we play an important role in ensuring that every child has the chance to grow up healthy, safe and strong.”

Under the new millage rate, a Palm Beach County owner of a single-family home with a taxable property value of $250,000 (with $50,000 in typical exemptions) will pay about $129.94 in ad valorem taxes to the Council in 2019-2020. 

Total ad valorem taxes to the Council will be $124,416,394. Nearly 93% of the Council’s overall budget will go to support children’s programs and services.

This is the first time in three years that the Council has voted to increase its tax rate. Even with the increase, the 2019-2020 rate is 13.5 percent lower than the Council’s highest rate in 2010-2011.

About Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County

The Council is a local, special-purpose government created by Palm Beach County voters in 1986 and reauthorized in 2014. For more than 30 years, it has provided leadership, funding, services and research on behalf of the county’s children so they grow up healthy, safe and strong.

If you have questions related to Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County and/or media inquiries, please contact Shana Cooper, Public Information Officer.