Palm Beach County commissioners have begun discussing how to
redraw their political district boundaries as part of a decennial effort to
rebalance district populations based on the 2010 Census.
County administrators have created four different maps, each with its
own set of boundary changes. Option 4 was tentatively selected. The
board directed staff to make a few more adjustments and bring back
the item for two required public hearings
Commissioners must finalize the boundary changes before the end of
the year.
At the Nov. 1 meeting, commissioners took the following action:
Online sales tax – agreed to support state legislative efforts to
collect sales taxes on goods purchased online. Currently, Florida
has a “use tax” on the books, but there is no practical way to enforce
collection.
Small Business Development Center – reinstated $34,000 that had
been cut from the annual contract with Palm Beach State College’s
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and approved a budget
transfer from contingency.
Financial policies – discussed and approved general financial
policies as recommended by the Government Finance Officers
Association for the FY-2013 budget cycle.
SFRTA – adopted a resolution opposing state legislation that
eliminates the county’s ability to appoint local citizen members to the
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTAS), allows
the governor to make appointments from outside the tri-county area,
and alters control and allocation of SFRTA funding
Restricted-use properties – approved on preliminary reading and
to advertise for public hearing on Nov. 15 an ordinance waiving the
annual renewal application requirement for restricted-use properties if
such classification has previously been applied for and granted.
Roads – discussed and approved on preliminary reading and to
advertise for public hearing on Nov. 15 a series of amendments to the
county’s five-year road program.
Vehicles for hire – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise
for public hearing on Nov. 15 an ordinance extending for another six
months a moratorium on new vehicle-for-hire companies wishing to
do business in Palm Beach County.