We think the Civic Association helped successfully ramp up public concern this year about the county's budget process. After seeing 25% increases over the previous 2 years, something had to be done.

For far too long the County Commission has trotted out every year a loud constituency to support keeping popular services funded while basically keeping hands off the tough stuff like the Sheriff's budget. The Civic Association felt they needed facts to counter this clever staging for the status quo.

First, the Civic Association helped underwrite a Florida Taxwatch study to give county commissioners options for how to balance their budget without raising taxes. Then they joined with local taxpayer groups, like the Taxpayers Action Board, to urge restraint, while Civic Association directors Pat Cooper and Jack Borland called on Commissioners and spoke out at meetings. Town Mayor Gail Coniglio very visibly led the Town's efforts to avoid further increases.

While county government still increased the tax rate just a bit, it was nothing like previous years.

While some might say the economy caused commissioners to limit taxes for a change, we believe the Civic Association played a part and made a difference for Palm Beachers.

We urge all Palm Beach residents to keep informed on county spending through regular Civic Association updates (Click Here to Go to the Civic Association Tax & Finance Webpage). We seek your support as we target where so much of the Palm Beach dollar goes.

--Judy Goodman for the Palm Beach Civic Association