Our Village Voice VOL. 36 NO. 11
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Town Of Jupiter News By Jim Kuretski, Mayor, Town of Jupiter In September, all local governmental agencies throughout Florida, finalize their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year and set the millage rates used for annual property tax assessments. Town of Jupiter lowered its total millage rate (operating plus debt) for the 15th consecutive year! The property tax millage rate is the rate at which property taxes are calculated. It represents the dollar amount of property tax per $1,000 of assessed property value. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office is responsible for determining the overall assessed value of properties. They annually estimate the “just value” of each parcel as of Jan. 1 for the tax year. They also apply exemptions (like homestead, senior, veteran) that reduce taxable value. Homesteaded residential properties continue to get significant dollar benefits from the Save Our Homes (SOH) ad valorem tax limitations in Florida that went into effect on Jan. 1, 1995. It was a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in November 1992. The SOH amendment limits the annual increase in the assessed value of a homestead property to a maximum of 3% or the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), whichever is lower. This limitation applies to the assessed value for property tax purposes, helping to protect homeowners from sharp increases in property taxes due to rising real estate values and/or periods of high inflation. The goal was to make homeownership more affordable and protect homeowners
from significant property tax increases that could result from rapidly appreciating property values. The table below provides a summary comparison between the actual historical property tax amount increases versus consumer price index inflationary cost increases for the past five-, 10-, 15- and 20-year time periods.
Non-homesteaded properties and commercial/industrial properties do not benefit from the homestead property “just value” exemptions and the Save Our Homes’ limits/ caps on annual property assessment increase. State of Florida government leaders are currently working to reduce future property taxes for homesteaded property owners. Do they understand how effective SOH has been and will continue to be? Do they understand how much local governmental agencies have worked to reduce property tax millage rates? Inflationary cost increases have adversely impacted everybody. State leadership efforts to reduce property insurance and/or inflationary cost increases would be more beneficial to all property owners. Stay tuned.
Northern Notes Hawks In South Florida: The Red-Shouldered Hawk And Cooper’s Hawk By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District October was National Raptor Month. The term “raptor” is derived from the Latin word “raptor,” which means “to grasp or seize.” In the bird world, raptors use their claws, or talons, “to grasp and seize” their prey. In South Florida, hawks are some of the more prominent types of raptors. Two types of hawks found in Northern Palm Beach County, the Redshouldered Hawk and the Cooper’s Hawk, stand out for
their distinct characteristics and behaviors. The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized bird distinguished by its striking physical features. It typically measures 17 to 24 inches in length, with a wingspan of 37 to 43 inches. One of its most notable traits is its reddish-orange shoulder patch and its bold, vertical bar patterns on the chest. The call of the Redshouldered Hawk is a loud, three-part “keek-keek-keek” that often echoes across its territory. In terms of habitat, the Red-shouldered Hawk prefers damp environments, often found in forests, wetlands, and areas close to water sources. This preference allows it to hunt a diverse diet, including small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. The hawk’s keen eyesight helps
NOVEMBER 2025
Bill’s Box By Bill Thompson Here And Now Have you ever had shingles? It is a monstrous skin disorder that adversely affects your inner body by way of nerve trails. It manifests first on one side of the body wrapping around as patches and trails of blisters trailing around to pectoral area traversing the armpit. The blisters burn and itch. When dry the blisters open and scab over until the affected areas remaining are smoothed over and red. The tissue is still tender and, at best, for two to four weeks. I am now in my 10th day of pain, discomfort and profound fatigue. That is one of several miseries that accompany this plague. Why do I say all this? It is my role as Town Crier to encourage readers to avoid my experience. Simple: Get vaccinated with the duel injection called Shingrix. Consult your doctor to get the injections and the interval between. When I recover from this bout, I will do what I should have done to in the first place. That must wait for up to six months post the initial episode. Sick and tired of being tired and sick! The Joy Of Fall There is a distinct and welcomed tinge of fall in the air. Walkers remark as much when finding Harley sitting comfortably in the front yard, our welcoming station. Harley’s paws feel better to him now that the sidewalk is not blistering hot. He has pep to his step. And how about the needed rain in October. May it keep the ground water level to keep our yard and plants healthy. We had a fun Halloween at the Bud Zisson Park and trick or treating. The holiday is usually a fun night for the adults who stretch it into the evening for house parties. Dress-up time for those with fond memories. Now we look to Thanksgiving on the 27th. Family time for fine meals with turkey, ham and all the fixings. It is a time to be thankful and generous in help to less fortunate or just lonely on a special holiday. On Thanksgiving, there are three churches on Indian River Drive that hold services Bill’s Box on page 4
Northern Notes on page 2
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY TO THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT
(561) 799-4445
Use 911 for emergencies only. Lock car doors. Do not leave valuables in the car.