Palm Beach County’s 2022 November Ballot Referendums
Bottom Line: As part of this series, I’ll be breaking down the referendums on November’s ballots in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and issuing recommendations on them. Today Palm Beach County is in focus.
PBC has two referendums on ballots this November. The first reads:
BALLOT TITLE: INCREASE WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO ADDRESS RISING HOUSING COSTS
BALLOT SUMMARY: INCREASE WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO ADDRESS RISING HOUSING COSTS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS To increase workforce and affordable housing through the acquiring, constructing, equipping of residential units, shall County issue not exceeding $200,000,000 of bonds, frequently combined with other funding, to create rental and homeownership opportunities for households earning up to 140% area median income, bearing interest rate(s) not exceeding legal maximum, maturing within twenty years from issuance, in one or more series, payable from County's full faith, credit and ad valorem taxing power per County Resolution R-2022-0626?
For Bonds:
Against Bonds:
Overview: This referendum was placed on ballots by the Palm Beach County Commission. If passed, the referendum would allow new debt issuance by the county of up to $200 million which would be earmarked for the construction of new housing projects which would be made available for those who make up to $91,000 annually.
Bottom Line: If you read or hear the summary you’re asked to vote on and feel like there’s a lot of missing information about how this would work...you’re not missing anything. This absurdly crafted referendum is sorely lacking in detail about how any of this would be carried out if approved by voters. This referendum is far from the first time the Palm Beach County Commission has placed absurdity on our ballots and wrapped it in a clever marketing campaign with the hope and expectation we’ll vote against our interests. The other referendum on this year’s ballot is yet another example. This is, however, about as brazen as they’ve ever been. Let’s be clear what happens here if this were to be approved by residents of Palm Beach County, the commission would be able to take out $200 million in debt, which we as residents are on the hook for paying back, without any meaningful restrictions for use other than for it to go to housing projects. For these reasons I recommend a vote Against Bonds.
The second referendum reads...
BALLOT TITLE: REFERENDUM TO CONTINUE AD VALOREM LEVY FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, TEACHERS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS
BALLOT SUMMARY: Shall the Palm Beach County School Board have continued authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage for operational needs of public schools dedicated to funding school safety; school police; mental health services; arts, music, physical education, career and choice program teachers; and improved teacher pay beginning July 1, 2023 and automatically ending June 30, 2027, with oversight of all funds by an independent committee of citizens and experts?
Yes:
No:
Overview: This referendum was placed on ballots at the Direction of the Palm Beach County School District by county commissioners. If passed, this would extend the existing special school tax, which voters approved in 2018, for another four years.
Bottom Line: I would start by directing every voter in Palm Beach to review their property tax assessment. For renters, you still can and should look up what your landlord is paying in property taxes that’s passed along to you in the form of higher rent. Look at how much money is being paid for schools in Palm Beach County. The three lines on your property tax bill for our schools are far and away the largest of any taxing authority. They also continue to grow at an extremely high rate. The fact of the matter is that with an average property tax assessment at greater than 15% this year, residents of Palm Beach County are experiencing maximum property tax increases yet again this year. That means a record windfall of revenue for the Palm Beach County School District (again). This tax isn’t needed by the school district, and what’s more, with a housing affordability crisis for many already, this simply places additional pressure on already stretched residents. For these reasons I recommend a No vote on this referendum.