Proposed 2012 Palm Beach County Charter Review Changes

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

 

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners has started a process to review our County Charter for potential changes.  The county charter is a type of local government constitution.  It sets governmental boundaries, powers, structure and methods of finance.

One idea the Commission is reviewing for change is the elimination of the independent elected Constitutional Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections positions. Citizens would lose the right to vote for these Constitutional positions.  Citizens have had the right to vote for these Constitutional Offices since 1885 when placed in the Florida Constitution. 

In addition to losing the right to vote, abolishing the Constitutional Tax Collector position in the Palm Beach County Charter undermines other citizen rights.   Under the proposal being put forth by the Commission, Administration would take over the services of the tax collector office.  That means the Tax Collector will no longer have the power of office to protect the due process of tax payers from undue influence from the county. 

The proposal will also change a fundamental check on the abuse of power in our county.  For the Tax Collector Office, the change means the county officials that set your tax rates and decides how and when to spend your tax dollars (Board of County Commissioners) will take the additional power to collect tax and distribute dollars.  This violates our democratic principal of “checks and balances” which means that no one branch can usurp or take enough power to become dominant over another branch.  That power in government is “balanced” and “checked”.

County Commissioners represent separate districts in Palm Beach County.  Each constitutional officer represents all citizens and taxpayers throughout the entire County. 

I encourage voters and residents to inform County Administration that it is important to keep your right to vote and maintain the separation of powers between the Constitutional Offices and County government.  You can do this by completing a charter survey online by clicking the link below.

Proposed 2012 Charter Changes – Constitutional Officers
Proposed 2012 Charter Changes – Elections & Power