From the desk of Commissioner Maria Sachs

June 2021, Issue Fourteen

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The first taste of coffee in the morning, the first steps taken after a long illness, the first sunlight after the darkness of the night, this is what it feels like for most of us who have been isolated and are now ready to listen to the crack of the bat and cheer for the "old home team" at a summer baseball game. This is why I organized one of America's favorite pastimes to honor our hometown heroes with free tickets and a hotdog combo to thank them for their service.

Let's play ball!

~Commissioner Maria Sachs

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link presented election updates on June 8th to the Board of County Commissioners

Palm Beach County and its Supervisor of Elections prides itself on its election integrity and accountability. Following the results of the 2020 election, Palm Beach County was one of five counties in the State to be acknowledged by the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission for our innovation in cyber security. There have been a few changes and the addition of one new precinct in Palm Beach County. The most significant changes is to the vote by mail system.

Vote by mail drop off boxes will no longer be available 24/7 as in the past due to new staffing regulations. The vote by mail boxes will now be stored inside of early voting locations as well as supervised by two employees at all times. Additionally individuals who have requested a vote by mail ballot prior to May 6^th are now only valid till November 2022. Once the election of November 2022 concludes, these individuals will have to re-register for a vote by mail ballot for the 2024 election by providing the last four digits of their Social Security number or their Florida issued ID.

Chair of the TDC, Commissioner Maria Sachs

Tourist Development Council Tax Revenue on a Record Recovery

The TDC has reported after the “One Year Recovery” from the pandemic, data comparison for April 2021, to “ground-zero” April 2020 and our previous record April 2019. I am pleased to report that we have a new Bed Tax collections Record for April 2021 activity. Our Bed Tax Collections for April 2021 activity collected in May of $6.2 million dollars is the highest for any month of April ever recorded since reporting began.

What is a "bed tax collection"? It's a sales tax collected by the State of Florida plus any discretionary sales surtax which is applied to room rentals, occupy living quarters, housekeeping accommodations for rental periods 6 months or less.

The Fiscal Year 2021 to Date Bed Tax Collections of $32.9 million are still (9%) lower than FY2020 and still lagging our Record FY2019 by (22%) for the same period. The good news is this April's performance, the expectations for May and a strong Summer of 2021 provide the expectations for a bullish Outlook for the rest of FY2021 in comparison to our original forecast.

This Saturday, June 12th from

7:30 - 8:00 am tune in to

95.9 or 106.9 radio dial as Commissioner Maria Sachs will be the featured guest with DJ Jay Oliver about the most current news here in Palm Beach County.

Oldies 95.9 & 106.9

"I want to urge all residents along or near the Atlantic Avenue corridor to participate in the public workshops that FDOT is offering the community". -Maria Sachs

Florida Department of Transportation Seeks Input

SPECIAL MEETING ALERT

FDOT - Atlantic Avenue Public Meeting Notices

"We came together to celebrate those who served us so heroically" - Maria Sachs

Commissioner Greg Weiss, Administrator Verdenia Baker, Commissioner Maria Sachs, GM Mike Bauer and Commissioner Maria Marino

I organized a summer baseball game to thank our Hometown Heroes throughout Palm Beach County from law enforcement, health care facilities, fire fighters/EMS and our Emergency Operations Center personnel. More than 800 heroes and their families joined us under the lights for a Friday night baseball game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to celebrate their achievements this past year as they served our community on the front lines of the pandemic.

As we stood for the National Anthem, threw out the first pitches and greeted our heroes, it was with great pride that we celebrated their accomplishments with ceremonial messages from the Sheriff, Fire Chiefs and Healthcare Facilities throughout Palm Beach County.

We enjoyed watching baseball with many of our Hometown Heroes and their families while cheering on the game, eating hotdogs and sharing some popcorn.

A Special Message to our Hometown Heroes

from Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

A Special Message to our Hometown Heroes

from Palm Beach County Fire Chief Reginald Duren

Palm Tran Pride Bus

Pride Month is about much more than the celebrations you and your family may attend. It's about much more than whether or not your beliefs allow you to support the flying of the Pride flag. The ceremonies during Pride Month bring hope, give strength, encourage perseverance and most importantly establish inclusion within our community because we are one large community and we need to work together.