HomeMy Public PortalAboutOctober 1, 1991; Assessed ValuesTOWN OF GULF STREAM
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
COMMISSIONERS October 1, 1991 MAIL ADDRESS
1D0 SEA ROAD
WILLIAM F. KOCH, JR.. Mayor GULF STREAM. FLORIDA
ALAN I. ARMOUR, Vice Mayor 33487
JAMES E. Cfl055 TEL.. GULF STREAM
14071276-5116
KATHLEEN S. WALLACE
LAWRENCE E. STAHL Town Manager
E. Scott Harrington
Dear Property Owners:
As we are all very aware, the County Property Appraisers Office has
increased the assessed values of our Town in the last year an average
of 46$ with some individual properties increased by as much as 300%.
As Mayor, I felt I would be remiss if I did not make some effort to
determine t1' -fairness of these increases. Accordingly, I have met and
spoken with a number of organizations including: the appraisers office;
the Palm Beach Committee for Good Government, a political action committee;
a local South County Homeowners Association; residents of Hobe Sound who
face similar problems in Martin County; and, our own Civic Association
as well.
From these meetings, it is clear that most waterfront communities
experienced the same sort of large increases that we did. Unfortunately,
it is also clear that there are great inequities and problems in the
appraisal process that will take some time to correct. Nevertheless,
there is a growing number of individuals and groups who are determined
to bring about a change in the process. Two avenues which are gaining
rapid support are the following:
Addressing the inequities at the local level by contracting
an independent appraiser to compare waterfront assessments
with other developments in the county.
2. Working at the State level to reform the Homestead Exemption
Act and/or place a cap on assessment increases while a
property remains under the same ownership.
The citizens groups I met with intend to pursue one or both of these
options and I will continue to monitor their progress. Regardless of
their successes,it is incumbant upon taxpayers county and state wide to
demand accountibility from all taxing authorities. Property appraisers
are only one part of the tax equation. The other is those bodies who
levy the tax and collect the revenues. To this end, the Town Commission
and Staff worked hard to adopt a budget with no tax increase, something
that very few taxing bodies in the State achieved. As taxpayers, we need
to insure all of those collecting the tax are truly responsive to the
needs of their constituents and not their own political agendas.
I would appreciate any input you may have regarding this matter and be
assured that your Town Commission will do everything they can to represent
ffliamF.
ch, J
Mayor