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Palm Beach County receives state legislative agenda, announces lobbying contracts with Ballard Partners and Capital City
Summary
The county received and filed its state legislative agenda and staff announced contracted lobbying support (Ballard Partners and Capital City) with roughly $300,000 cited for combined contracts; priorities include property tax modeling, SB 180 growth-management concerns, County Road 880 appropriations and multiple local bills.
Palm Beach County commissioners on Wednesday received the county's state legislative agenda and heard staff announce recent lobbying contract negotiations with Ballard Partners and Capital City.
County Administrator (acting) said the county completed negotiations with Ballard Partners and Capital City. Administrator Abruzzo said Ballard Partners will provide federal and local support and noted, "Ballard Partners has agreed for 100,000 for federal, 100,000 for local... Capital City... is doing it for an equal match at 100,000"—a total sum the administrator characterized as approximately $300,000 for the firms.
Alessandra, the county's state legislative lead, walked commissioners through the agenda, calling out housing, growth management and property-tax proposals as priorities. "We fully expect there to be a live local glitch bill again this session," she said, and staff flagged SB 180 (growth management) and a package of property-tax proposals that could materially reduce county revenues.
Key priorities and asks: The agenda lists a suite of appropriations requests (including County Road 880/C-51 and bridge replacements), water and lagoon initiatives, septic-to-sewer conversions, public-safety and fire-rescue items, child-care capacity licensing, and a public-records exemption for medical examiner autopsy reports (HB 21). Staff said they will monitor property-tax bills and prepare fiscal-impact modeling that will be presented to the board on Nov. 25.
Commissioner concerns and next steps: Commissioners asked staff what bills pose the greatest risk and how the county should respond. Staff said the property-tax proposals would have the most significant fiscal impact (one cited scenario estimated a potential $600 million impact at first glance if homestead ad valorem taxes were eliminated) and promised detailed fiscal scenarios. Staff also cited an upcoming local-bill public hearing (Nov. 13) for a fire union local bill and said the county will provide opportunities for municipalities and stakeholders to comment.
Board action: Commissioner Weiss moved, and Commissioner Woodward seconded, a motion to receive and file the state legislative agenda; the board voted to receive and file the agenda 6-0.
What to watch next: Staff will return with fiscal-impact modeling for property-tax proposals and deeper analysis of SB 180 and other growth-management items. Lobbying teams will be introduced to commissioners in individual office meetings.
Quote: "We fully expect there to be a live local glitch bill again this session," Alessandra said when previewing growth-management and housing priorities.
