FAU MAKES BOCA RATON MORE AND MORE OF A COLLEGE TOWN

New 1200-bed apartment opens near new Florida Atlantic University football stadium, offering large pool, sand volleyball court and bbq grills.  Resident card access for elevators increases security.  Campus has a fitness and recreation center, movie house and mall-style food court.  

Cost to student for a semester is $4400-$4800.  This $121-MM complex has a 7- and 8-story buildings separated by a courtyard, with 2- and 4-bedroom apartments, two baths, kitchens, cable tv and high speed internet access.  Each student has their own bedroom and full size bed.  Apartments are all rented for this semester.

AWARD WINNING PALM BEACH COUNTY THRIVES.

Palm Beach County maintains a strong internet presence by offering many web-based applications to easily and transparently access service and do business with county departments and agencies. The 2011 Digital Counties Survey, partnering with the National Association of Counties, awarded our county #1 in digital technology, #1 in counties with populations over 500,000.

The annual survey takes into account achievements using technology both regarding operating efficiencies and realizing strategic objectives. ePZV refers to planning, zoning and building. ePermits is used for land development. WbEOC is for emergency management,e911for emergency dispatch, LEX for law enforcement data sharing, HRIS for human services and myGeoNav (GIS).

Many government, education and nonprofit organizations are connected to the county fiber optic network, allowing an open access public network. Internet service is provided to the network by Florida LambdaRail.

For making government information easily accessible, the county website, www.pbcgov.com won the 2011 Sunny Award from Sunshine Review which recognizes government websites exceeding standards aimed at encouraging open government, and the 2010 NACo Achievement Award for outstanding promotion of government transparency was presented to the Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative.

PALM BEACH PROPERTY OWNERS PETITION TO LOWER MARKET VALUES OF PROPERTIES

Palm Beach Property Appraiser’s total market value includes land and improvements and determines the assessed value.

Nearly 350 property owners in Palm Beach filed to challenge the total market value assigned to their properties by Palm Beach County Appraiser Gary Nikolit’s office.  Market value is part of the formula used to determine property-tax rates for the tax rolls.  Hearings will begin shortly and continue most likely for several months.  Appeals will be held at the county courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, and each petitioner is notified 30 days in advance of when their petition is scheduled to be heard.

Last year, petitions were filed in the area for 462 properties.  There was also a big drop in countywide challenges from 10,941 to about 7,600 this year.   Part of the reason for dwindling numbers might be because fewer properties are changing ownership.  In 2010, about 37% of countywide petitioners received adjustments.

Properties with highest market values in Palm Beach included six commercial buildings and developments and four residences, none with homestead exemptions.  On September 19^th the 25-day period ended for filing a petition.