Council approves reduced tax rate for 2021-2022

The governing board of Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County on Thursday voted to reduce the 2021-2022 millage rate to .6233 – a four-percent decrease from last year.
The Council’s property tax revenue will remain the same despite the reduction, allowing the Council to meet the needs of the community in innovative ways. This is especially important as the global pandemic continues to take a toll on Palm Beach County’s families. 
In the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, the Council will focus on reducing disparities in child outcomes, supporting child care providers during the ongoing pandemic so parents can get back to work, and implementing a new mentoring initiative for children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Council also plans to increase mental health/trauma-informed care supports for children and increase supports for literacy, while focusing on community-driven innovations.  
“It’s been a difficult 18 months, as Palm Beach County has struggled to stay safe and care for those most in need during Covid-19,” says Lisa Williams-Taylor, CSC’s CEO. “But our community is resilient, as are our providers and partners. We are proud to work together to support the health and well-being of Palm Beach County’s children and families.
“This budget means we can sustain all of our current programs and services over the next year, as well as meet the increased needs of our children and families during these unpredictable times.” 
Under the new millage rate, a Palm Beach County owner of a single-family home with an assessed property value of $350,000 (with $50,000 in typical exemptions) will pay about $186.99 in ad valorem taxes to the Council in 2021-2022. 
Total ad valorem taxes to the Council will be $133,216,049. Nearly 93% of the Council’s overall budget will go to support children’s programs and services.
In other business
GII Capacity Pipeline: The Great Ideas Initiative Capacity Building Pipeline (GII CBP) provides funding to previous Great Ideas awardees to help them enlarge their organizational footprint or work more effectively to serve children and families in Palm Beach County. The goal is to create sustainability among growing nonprofit organizations. In July 2021, the Council invited 2019 GII recipients to apply to be the second cohort of GII CBP funding. CSC received 10 proposals, out of the 16 previous GII 2019 awardees. Of those, six were selected to be a part of Cohort II, with awards ranging from $31,500 to $50,000. Those awarded include:
•    Bi-Wi “Because I’m Worth It!” International, Inc.
•    Delray Students First Inc., dba Bound for College
•    Community Greening Corp.
•    Connect to Greatness, Inc.
•    Roots and Wings, Inc.
•    Sunflower Creative Arts, Inc.
Support for Recovery: The Council approved funding, from under expenditures, for the Supports for Recovery program, which provides a one-time award of unrestricted operating funds to 2016-2019 Great Ideas Initiative (GII) awardees. Previous GII awardees, with operating budgets under $1 million that are still providing services to Palm Beach County children and families, were invited to apply. Forty-two applicants were chosen to receive $25,000 through Supports for Recovery. For a list of awardees, please contact Shana Cooper, public information officer, by clicking here. 
Proclamations: The Council proclaimed September as Infant Mortality Awareness Month and October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.